spring 2006 rabbit tracks

P a s s i o n a t e . R e l e n t l e s s . C h a m p i o n s .G O B I G . G O B L U E . G O J A C K S .

1 0 0 Ye a r s. . .

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE PAIDBROOKINGS SDPERMIT 24

South Dakota State UniversityAthletics DepartmentBox 2820Brookings, SD 57007-1497

G O B I G . G O B L U E . G O J A C K S .

Jackrabbit fans can now purchase tickets for all the homegames online. For more information, go to:

www.gojacks.com

C M Y K

RABBITRABBITtracks

P

Volume 12, No. 1 South Dakota State University Spring 2006

This year the NCAA is celebrating twosignificant events: 100 Years –Celebrating the Student-Athlete and the25th Year of Women’s Championships.

These two milestones in the history of the NCAA aresignificant in that they represent collegiate institutionscommitment to excellence for all student-athletes. The growth of opportunity for student-athletes toexperience the joy of sport while pursuing anacademic degree occurs nowhere else in the world like it does for student-athletes in our universities.

President Theodore Roosevelt summoned collegeathletics leaders to two White House conferences toencourage reform in intercollegiate athletics. Sport atuniversities had reached a point where the integrity ofthe game was eroding and student welfare was injeopardy.

In early December 1905, Chancellor Henry M.MacCracken of New York University convened ameeting of thirteen institutions to initiate changes infootball playing rules. At a subsequent meeting onDecember 28 in New York City, the IntercollegiateAthletic Association of the United States was foundedby sixty-two members. It later was renamed theNational Collegiate Athletic Association.

Out of a desire to protect the integrity ofintercollegiate athletics, President Roosevelt called on

leaders to set a path for a higher standard of faircompetition and protection for the student-athlete’swelfare. Likewise in 1981, a similar path was followedinvolving intercollegiate sport for women, whenmembers of the Association for IntercollegiateAthletics for Women (AIAW) voted to merge with theNCAA in order to provide like opportunities forfemale student-athletes.

South Dakota State University is proud to be amember of the NCAA. The many programs that areprovided as well as the highly visible championshipopportunities have given our Jackrabbit student-athletes an opportunity to grow and excel as theypursue a degree.

Student-athlete welfare is at the core of the NCAA’smembership mission. Today academic standards forstudent-athletes are the highest they have ever been. Asa result, graduation rates have never been higher andremain substantially higher than the studentpopulation as a whole. Participation has grown to anall-time high for men and women student-athletes.

It is time to celebrate and embrace these historicalmilestones of the NCAA and, more importantly, tocelebrate the athletic and academic integrity theassociation has brought to intercollegiate athletics.

A message from Fred Oien

Fred OienSDSU Athletic Director


Celebrating athletic,academic integrity

A message from Keith Mahlum

Terminology and numbers are a huge part of sports. We use specific wordsto describe participants on athletic teams. We know the “quarterback,”“setter,” “goalie,” “forward,” “heavyweight,” “sprinter,” or “pitcher.” We honorthese athletes for the statistics accumulated during competition. Scoring titles,all-conference selections and hall of fame inductions are the end products ofoutstanding athletic achievement. These talented athletes are identifiedfrequently only by the numbers on their uniforms.

If you take a deeper look, the aforementioned information only partiallydescribes the members of our athletic teams. Another fascinating storylineinvolving these talented men and women is often overshadowed, but

certainly should not go unnoticed. The talented Jackrabbits that wear the yellow and bluealso are college students and we know them as “biology, public recreation, electricalengineering, early childhood education, nursing, and pharmacy majors.” The academicstatistics they accumulate in Accounting 211, Chemistry 112 and Math 225 are quiteimpressive. Their success in the classroom leads to spots on the dean’s list and in varioushonor societies. These students are classified by numbers associated with their test scores,grade-point averages and graduation rates, not forty-yard dash times.

We currently have more than 400 student-athletes in our program participating intwenty-one sports (eleven women, ten men). These student-athletes are enrolled in morethan eighty different majors, have a collective cumulative GPA of more than 3.00 andannually achieve graduation rates significantly higher than the national averages at alllevels of NCAA classification. At SDSU, we believe in combining elite athleticcompetition with a challenging educational experience, and it’s working.

So the next time you are watching or listening to your favorite Jackrabbit athletic eventand cheering for No. 21, 5 or 66, take pride in knowing that the “outside hitter,” “guard”or “shortstop” in uniform is also a Jackrabbit student diligently preparing to become aneducator, researcher, entrepreneur or future leader of your community.

Keith MahlumSDSU Assistant to AthleticDirector/Development Director


Talking the talkand walking the walk

Rabbit tracksSpring 2006, Vol. 12, No. 1

SDSU President Peggy Gordon MillerSDSU Athletic Director Fred OienSDSU Sports Information Director

Ron LenzSDSU Sports Information Assistant Director Jason HoveAssistant to AD/External Affairs Keith MahlumEditor Nan Steinley, University Relations

Contributing WritersDave Graves, Kyle Johnson, Miranda Reiman, Denise Watt, University Relations

Designer Kristine Madsen, University RelationsPhotographer Eric Landwehr, University Relations

Rabbit Tracks is produced by University Relations in cooperation with the SDSU AthleticDepartment at no cost to the State of South Dakota. Please notify the Athletic Departmentoffice when you change your address.

Athletic Department South Dakota State UniversityBox 2820, Brookings, SD 57007Telephone: 1-866-GOJACKSFax: 605/688-5999Website: www.gojacks.com

1,200 copies printed by the SDSU Athletic Department at no cost to the State of South Dakota. PE069 5/06.

Contents100 Years of SDSU basketball — Check out our top 10 . . .2

Lenz — SID ready to discover a new season — retirement . . 6

Sieler — The charmed life of State’s champion thief . . . . . . . .9

Nehl — Rugby was fun, but his heart was on the mat . . . . . .12

My greatest influence— Swimmer Mallory Onisk . . . . . .. . 14

My greatest influence— Runner Brad Heyne . . . . . . . . . . . .15

My greatest influence— Various athletes . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . 16

Hellickson — Getting into the game (from the sidelines). . . 18

Kulesza — Jumping from one sport to another . . .. . . . . . . . .20

1. Lemme Herting, firstthree-time all-conference, 1928-302. Chris White, all-American & conferenceMVP 1992, all-conference 1991 & ’923. Dave Thomas,conference MVP 1973,all-conference 1972 &’734. Herb Bartling, all-conference 1950 & ’515. Don Jacobsen, all-American & conferenceMVP 1961, all-conference 1961-636. John Billington, all-conference 1941 & ’42

7. Mark Tetzlaff, all-American & conferenceMVP 1985, all-conference 1983-858. John Thomas,conference MVP 1969,all-conference 1968 &’699. Tom Black, all-American1964, all-conference1963 & ’6410. Austin Hansen, all-conference 2001-200311. Dennis Womeldorf, all-American andconference MVP 197012. Virg Riley, conferenceMVP 1956, all-conference 1955 & ’5613. James Schmidt, all-conference 1943, ’47 &’48

14. Kurt Meister, all-American 1998, all-conference 1997 & ’9815. Jim Walker,conference MVP 198016. Cerci Mahone,conference MVP 197917. Lee Colburn, all-American 1973, all-conference 1971-7318. Merlin “Hank” Smith,conference MVP 1959,all-conference 1958 &’5919. Clarence Schutte, 1923,first all-conferenceselection20. Sid Bostic, conferenceMVP 1964, all-conference 1963 & ’64

1

2

34

5

6

7 8

20

19

18

1716

1112

13

1415

10

9

On the cover — Faces from our history


2 • Rabbit tracks

A century of SDSU men’s basketball. A century ofmemories.

Since the first recorded season of 1905-06,Jackrabbit lore has spread to every corner of thestate, impacting countless fans, and providing alifetime of cherished moments.

With 2,089 games in the books, the highlights areinnumerable. The challenge here is to narrow the field,to cut through the countless applauses and chroniclethe ten loudest ovations in the program’s storiedhistory. So, hold on to your seat. Go Jacks!

No. 1— Title town:The Jacks started 1962-63 inconspicuously losing four of their

first eight games. However, Coach Jim Iverson’s squad cametogether to finish 22-5, culminating with the NCAA CollegeDivision championship in Evansville, Indiana.

After their fourth conference title in five years, they hosted theregional tournament and beat Cornell College and NebraskaWesleyan to advance to the national finals. SDSU beat Fresno Statein the opener behind Wayne Rasmussen’s thirty points. In thesemifinals, State got past a talented Southern Illinois team that

featured future New York Knicks’ star Walt Frazier. Tom Black leda balanced Jacks’ attack with twenty points. Nick Brod hadseventeen, followed by Rasmussen’s sixteen, and Sid Bostic withfifteen points.

The stage was set for the national title game againstWittenburg of Ohio, the top-ranked team in the country. Mostpeople are familiar with the forty-foot shot Bostic made at thebuzzer for a dramatic 44-42 win, but what transpired before hisgame-winner was equally exciting.

Bob Glasrud tied the game, 42-42, with two field goals. Withseconds left, Wittenburg missed a shot and Doug Peterson “cameout of nowhere” for the rebound. He fired the ball to Bostic whoselunging arch shot was one for the ages.

Rasmussen was the national tournament’s most valuableplayer. Named College Athlete of the Year in South Dakota, heplayed ten seasons in the National Football League with theDetroit Lions. Black, an all-American in 1964, was named to theall-tournament team and was the most valuable player of theregional tournament. Bostic was also on the all-regional team.

“We were the underdogs,” says Iverson, whose team wasranked tenth in the country heading into the NCAA playoffs. “Oursecret was a good mix of players. We had great talent surroundedby tough competitors. It was a tribute to the players for what theyaccomplished.”

SDSU basketball100 years of A century of memoriesThe best of the best in Jackrabbit men’s basketball

Nick Brod with the 1963 national championship trophy.

Rabbit tracks • 3

No. 2 — Ambush in theBarn:

Prairie View A&M was the top-ranked team in the nation, but that wasbefore they came to the “friendlyconfines” of a packed Barn for the 1961regional. State, which defeated Cornell inthe opener, faced a Prairie View squad inthe title game led by 6-9 Zelmo Beaty,who later played eight years for the St.Louis Hawks.

The Texas school was full of dunkartists, but that didn’t bother the Jacks,who had their own in 6-6 Terry Slattery.A few minutes into the game, the Jacksput on one of their patented fastbreaksthat Slattery ended with a dunk. The fanswent wild and it set the tone for the restof the game.

The contest displayed the giftedshooting touch of Don Jacobsen, whosent an NCAA playoff record makingtwenty-two of twenty-eight free throwsthat fueled the Jacks to a stunning 88-84win and a trip to the nationaltournament.

In the finals at Evansville, Stateknocked off California-Santa Barbara inthe first round. After falling to eventualchampion Southeast Missouri State in thesemifinals, the Jacks claimed the third-place trophy over Mount St. Mary’s ofEmmitsburg, Maryland (77-76) on a last-second shot by Slattery to cap off a 21-6campaign.

For Jacobsen, it was the season ofseasons. Even though the Jacks were third,the Lake Norden flash was pegged themost valuable player of the nationaltournament after racking up eighty-fourpoints. He claimed the conference scoringtitle (23.6), graduated as State’s all-timeleading scorer, and was the program’s firstall-American.

No. 3 — Frost miracles:With a 71-64 lead and 2:14 to play,

SDSU was poised to win its secondNCAA championship. However,Jacksonville State of Alabama, takingadvantage of Jackrabbit foul difficulties,escaped with a 74-73 win in the 1985NCAA title game in Springfield,Massachusetts.

Still, theheartbreakingloss couldn’tchange amagical season,one that sawCoach GeneZulk’s teamfashion a 26-7record and theconferencechampionship.The Jacks werean impressive18-0 at FrostArena, winningfive by two points or less, including awild 48-47 verdict over Augustana on atip-in by Arvis Young at the buzzer.

There were more miracles to come.Frost hosted the regional tournament andthe Jacks opened with a win over GannonUniversity. Next came Grand Valley State,and in a seesaw affair, State survived (58-57) when the Lakers’ missed their finalshot.

SDSU then became the first team inSouth Dakota to host an NCAAquarterfinal-round game. A Frost Arenaand NCAA Division II playoff record9,339 fans watched the Jacks defeatCalifornia State-Hayward (62-58) for aberth in the NCAA Final FourTournament.

“I’ve never seen so much energy in agym as I did that night,” recalls MarkTetzlaff of the Hayward game. “Thecrowd lined up for hours to make surethey had an opportunity to watch thegame. When we entered the gym for pre-game warm-ups, the crowd wenthysterical and shivers of excitement wentdown my spine.”

Tetzlaff, an all-American from Hayti,was one of State’s all-time greats. He wasthe most valuable player of the conferenceand national tournament, and set SDSUcareer marks for points and rebounds.

No. 4 —Sweet revenge:Preseason polls predicted a .500

finish in 1995-96, but Scott Nagy’s firstyear as head coach was something muchmore. The Jacks, who were 24-5, cruised

Words of hoop wisdomHighlighting 100 years of SDSUbasketball was both rewarding andchallenging. This writer wasn’talone in the task. There werefamiliar and reliable sources forvaluable input and advice.

They were:• Jim Booher, head athletic trainerwho has been on the SDSU staffsince 1967;• Sid Bostic, member of the 1963national championship team;• Austin Hansen, standout guardfrom 2000 to 2003;• Jim Iverson, head coach from1956 to 1965 (142-65 record), hasthe best conference winningpercentage (78.4) of all SDSUmentors. He guided SDSU to fiveleague championships and threetrips to the national tournamentculminating with the 1963 NCAAcrown;• Don Jacobsen, All-Americanwho fueled the Jacks to threestraight conference titles and thirdplace at the 1961 nationaltournament,• Ron Lenz, sports informationdirector at SDSU since 1977;• Jim Marking, compiled 148-80record and four conference titlesas head coach from 1965 to 1974;• Scott Nagy, current head coachand all-time leader in wins (229-97), has been named conferencecoach of the year five times andhas led SDSU to four leaguechampionships;• Fred Oien, named SDSU AthleticDirector in 1990 and a member ofthe athletic department staff since1979;• Mark Tetzlaff, All-American andschool record holder for careerpoints and rebounds, led Jacks tonational runner-up finish in 1985.

Kyle Johnson

100 Years continued page 4

Mark Tetzlaff - 1985

to the conference title and traveled to Hays,Kansas, for the regional.

After knocking off North DakotaState, the Jacks went “toe-to-toe” withhost Fort Hays State before losing, 99-90. The Tigers ended up going 34-0 en route to the Division IIcrown.

Revenge was sweet in1997 when it was State’s turnto host the regional. TheJacks rolled past Nebraska-Kearney (102-83) in thefirst game, marking thefourth time in six gamesthat they reached thecentury mark. In theregional championship,SDSU stopped FortHays State, 86-74.

The Jacks endedup falling to LynnUniversity of Floridain the first game ofthe NCAAtournament, 78-72. They finished25-5 and wereled by first-teamall-American JasonSempsrott’s 23.9 scoring average.

“The atmosphere for that Fort HaysState game was great,” says Nagy. “They had twofirst-team all-Americans and we just whipped them.”

No. 5 — North conquerors:Success in North Dakota was always key for title contenders. A

good example was 1973, when HeadCoach Jim Marking’s squad made thetreacherous journey on the finalweekend and snatched wins over theUniversity of North Dakota and NorthDakota State University.

The rare sweep put the Jacks alonein first and the conference crown whenthe University of South Dakota, favoriteto repeat as league champions, wasupset at home the final night byNorthern Iowa. The Jacks would haveto wait twenty-two more years beforebeating the North Dakota teams on theroad again.

In the regional the Jacks defeatedSouthwest Missouri State and ended theseason (18-8) despite a phenomenal

forty-four point (school record), twenty-six rebound performance byDave Thomas. Lee Colburn was named to the all-American team

and graduated as the school’s career leader in points andrebounds.

No. 6 —Amazing run:SDSU won seventy-five of eighty-eight games

from 1996 to 1998 (85 percent). The third yearcontained a milestone

that captivated Jacks’ fansfor more than two months when theystarted the season 21-0, setting a schoolrecord for consecutive wins.

Even though State was upset in theregional final (Northern State) inBrookings, it was still a remarkableyear. The Jacks led by all-Americancenter Kurt Meister, finished 26-3,and claimed their third consecutiveconference championship.

“We just knew how to winand did a lot of things well,”comments Nagy, whose squadmade history with a number-oneranking in a February Division IIpoll.

No. 7 — Those running Rabbits:SDSU was the 1968 conference champion after a four-

year absence. It was a year that Marking’s Jacks not onlyreached twenty wins (20-7) for just the fourth time, but

it was also a squad that set a host of new scoringstandards.State clinched the league crown in convincing style

with a 121-78 home blasting of Northern Iowa, which set aschool and conference scoring mark. It was a hook shot from ClydeHagen in the final seconds that gave the Jacks the record.

Eleven team records were shattered. Guy Mackner was the loneindividual record-setter with most field goals in a season.

No. 8 — Sophomore sensations:Perhaps Coach Iverson’s biggest challenge was 1958-59, a season

that saw him transform a vastly inexperienced squad into aconference champion and a place in the NCAA tournament.

At the heart were six sophomores who arguably comprised thebest freshman team in State history: Ron Carothers, Marlin VanDen Einde, Mike Sisk, Johnny Meek, Leon Crossman, and DonJacobsen. The squad had a particularly big front line led by 6-8 VanDen Einde, who led in scoring (17.6) and rebounding (11.3).

The Jacks, who broke five school records while going 17-7,thumped a pair of Illinois schools, Augustana (73-58) and Knox(106-80) in the regional in Brookings. In the program’s firstappearance at the national tournament, the Jacks fell to a hot-shooting Los Angeles State outfit (92-67) in the first round.

4 • Rabbit tracks

100 years continued...

Dave Thomas - 1973

Kurt Meister - 1997

Jason Sempsrott - 1995

No. 9 —Comingtogether:

National aspirationsswirled throughJackrabbit circles for2003-04, but thosethoughts quickly diedwhen season-endinginjuries and illness struckfour of the top-sevenplayers.

However, that didn’tdetour the Jacks, whopersevered to finishsecond in the conferenceand a school record forwins with a 27-7 mark.They solidified a spot inthe regional and toppedFort Hays State in the

first round, despite losing yet another key player when starting guardChris Stoebner sustained a sprained ankle. In the semifinals, theJacks suffered a one-point loss to host Nebraska-Kearney afterleading by fourteen at halftime.

The notable absentees meant a smaller squad, and despite going6-3 at the power and small forward spots, SDSU managed to leadDivision II in rebounding. Remarks Nagy, “We lost good playersand ended up accomplishing something. I’ve never had a team that Igot more out of than that team. In terms of coaching satisfaction,that year was special.”

No. 10 — Southern rival: Win or lose, games with the University of South Dakota were

indeed memorable, not only for fan sentiment, but also for the so-called extracurricular activities.

Their respective arenas were packed, and when the Jacks movedto spacious Frost Arena, crowds tripled in size. In fact, of the twenty-one games listing an attendance of at least 8,000, twelve were againstthe Coyotes.

They first met in 1914, and due to their very nature, all of their202 clashes could be considered an ovation. For that reason, it’sdifficult to single out one game or season.

However, who could forget the last game in the Barn? It was1973 and USD was the pre-season favorite. A game plan ofthrowing to half court on the inbounds to bypass a talented Coyoteguard duo worked. The Jacks’ rolled to a big win (89-66) and theeventual conference title.

How about 1996? Tied for the conference lead going into aFebruary home game against the Coyotes, the Jacks posted a twenty-point win, highlighted by a pair of hair-raising dunks from Greg

Himler and Jason Schuetz. The Jacks went on to finish 24-5 and aleague-best 15-3.

The new millennium had notable efforts. After opening the2000 conference season 1-3, a young Jackrabbit team upended theconference champion Coyotes in Vermillion in late March to unseatUSD from its top regional ranking. At Frost Arena for the 2003conference opener, a frenzied crowd of 8,500 cheered the Jacks to a94-82 win over the ’Yotes.

Honorable ovations: • SDSU became the only NCAA Division I institution in the

state when the school made the affiliation switch in 2004.• The Jacks cruised to the 1970 conference title going 13-1.

Overall they were a glossy 22-4 and lost to Tennessee State in theNCAA Tournament. Ironically, Tennessee State would be their firstDivision I victory thirty-four years later.• In 1980 the Jacks became the first and only team to win the

conference “triple crown” when they claimed championships in theholiday tournament, the regular season, and post-season tourney. • The 1992 SDSU squad had quite a run, winning the league

(13-5) and regional in Brookings, before finishing 25-8 after a first-round loss to California-Pennsylvania in the NCAA Tournament.• Jim Iverson was only 26 when he took over in 1957. The

Jacks compiled one of their best records (19-3) and shared theconference title with USD (11-1).• It was the 1962 conference opener at Northern Iowa. Absent

was junior Bob Shelden, who was sidelined with lymphoma. Beforethe game, Iverson read a letter from Shelden wishing his teammateswell, and the emotional Jacks answered with a five-point win.

“The guys charged out for the best overall effort of any team Iever had,” recalls Iverson. “You could have heard a pin drop in there.Unfortunately, Bob passed away a couple months later. There was notreatment at the time.”• SDSU faced North Dakota in the 2002 conference

tournament championship game at Frost Arena. State, the regular-season champion (15-3), had lost to the Sioux by eighteen points inGrand Forks a couple weeks earlier. In this title affair, the Jacksrallied from a halftime deficit for the win, a result that knockedNorth Dakota from the regional tournament picture. It marked thefirst time the team that won the conference also wore the leaguetournament crown.• Mother Nature figured prominently in a 1985 game against

Jamestown College in Frost Arena. The contest started east and westand ended north and south when the roof started leaking. Athalftime, which came 32 seconds early, workers pushed the bleachersback so the teams could finish on the intramural court since thebiggest leak was at mid-court.• The Jacks have been winning for a long time. Even back in

1922 when they were 25-3, a season that featured a trip with a splitsquad for games in Minnesota and the Black Hills.

Kyle Johnson

Rabbit tracks • 5

Austin Hansen - 2003

He’s the resident sports historian, producer ofgame programs, publicity source for your son ordaughter, and server of Agent Orange.

That person is Ron Lenz, who is leaving aftertwenty-nine memorable years as sports informationdirector at SDSU. His last day on the job is June 30.When one thinks of him, several things come to mind.

Hands down, he will be sorely missed, because if there wasever a person made for a life in sports, particularly for theJacks, it’s Lenz. “I’ll always be a Jackrabbit,” he says. “I

was born into the Jackrabbit family in the Barn and I don’t thinkyou can put out that fire.

“Leaving sports information is a tough decision. I’ve beenfortunate in my life to do something I love doing at a place where Iwanted to be and that’s SDSU. But, the time has come to turn itover to a more youthful generation.”

Lenz, 62, has been a state employee for thirty-four years,counting five years he was sports information director at theUniversity of South Dakota. Being employed by the state’s twolargest universities, brought with it a unique perspective, he says.

“I have been blessed to be in the right place at the right timeand have worked with some great people. I was at USD when CarlMiller was athletic director and they were planning and buildingthe DakotaDome. I had the opportunity to move to my almamater and work for Stan Marshall, Harry Forsyth, and Fred Oien.

“It’s not just the coaches you work with, it’s the people youmeet who are an important part of history. At USD, HarryGamage, Rube Hoy, Dan Lennon, and Dwane Clodfelter werearound. When I came to SDSU, people like Warren Williams, JimEmmerich, and Erv Huether were all active. It’s a thrill just to meetpeople who have played such important roles in the athletic historyof not only their institution but the entire state,” Lenz says.

Demanding, yet enjoyableDedication and sports information go hand-in-hand, a relationshipLenz has thoroughly relished.

It’s a job where forty-hour work weeks arrive Wednesdays, andSundays in the office are routine. Holidays are interrupted bygames and vacations are rare.

The hours have been extended even more due to overlappingseasons and expanded schedules that come with Division I. Yetthrough it all, Lenz has maintained a positive and upbeat nature.

The bottom line, and hence the secret to his success andlongevity in a demanding profession, is Lenz has viewed his job asa hobby rather than work.

“That’s what I’ve always said. If you are a sports fan and canwork in sports, then that’s the best of both worlds. I’ve been luckyfor most of my life, because I have really enjoyed what I’ve beendoing. I look forward going to work in the morning.”

Tell me a storyLenz is the consummate communicator and never at a loss forwords no matter what the subject. Those who know him can attestto his uncanny ability for memory and detail when describing agame or life in general.

He says baseball is his favorite sport, but in reality, “it’swhichever sport is in season.”

Lenz was also famous over the years for “the spread.” He putabout as much effort in the press box buffet as game programs.

Ron Lenz

6 • Rabbit tracks

Mr. Jackrabbitleaves job that hasbeen his life

R o n L e n z

Rabbit tracks • 7

Broadcasters, writers, and staff workers never starved at SDSUfootball and basketball games. Halftime not only meant watchingthe Pride, it was also a time to anxiously wait for the ritual arrivalof Burger King double cheeseburgers.

“Ron's gourmet kitchen in the press box is infamous amongthose who have sampled it,” remarks Oien, athletic director since1990. “His chili preparation and Agent Orange drink have fosteredmany a conversation!”

Lenz hasn’t done it by himself either. Besides numerousstudent laborers, his own family pitched in led by his wife, Eris.“She has been very supportive, and being a sports fan herself, hashelped a lot.”

Daughter Jackie of Bloomington, Minnesota, kept statistics“from the time she was old enough to do them” and son Greg ofOwatonna, Minnesota, sold game programs. A second daughter,Jennifer, lives in Volga. The Lenzes also have three grandchildren.Jackie and Greg are both SDSU graduates, while Jennifer attendedSDSU, then transferred to Northern State University for herelementary education degree.

“Throughout the years I have watched Ron, Eris, and theirchildren grow as a family,” observes long-time swim coach BradErickson. “As his life filled with more and more happenings, Ronmade room to accommodate everything, yet still made time to dohis job. . . . He has truly earned this change in life.”

War interrupts plansLenz came to State in 1962 with a clear purpose: to major injournalism and pursue a career writing sports. When not in class,he worked as a student assistant in the Jackrabbit sportsinformation office, an experience that foretold his future. “When Iwas a freshman, a friend told me there was an opening in sportsinformation,” Lenz recalls. “I didn’t know there was such a thing. Ichecked it out and liked it. I thought I’d like to do this someday.”

However, four months shy of a degree, world events forcedhim to trade pencil for an M-16 and the Vietnam War. After just afew months in the country, while serving with the 4th InfantryDivision, Lenz’s unit came under attack during a patrol November10, 1967. A grenade exploded close to him and fragments litteredhis face, costing him his right eye.

“I came close to being totally blind,” says Lenz, who spentnearly four months in the hospital, which was about the length ofhis stay in Vietnam.

Discharged from the army and back home, the first thing thePurple Heart recipient did was hitch hike a ride to Watertown forthe sectional basketball tournament in March 1968.

Lenz also called the publisher of the Watertown Public Opinionwho was looking for a news writer. He was hired, but was thinkingof only staying until September so he could return to SDSU.When the sports editor’s position became available, Lenz got thejob and decided to stay. He managed to attend summer sessionsand completed his degree in 1970.

Being president of the state sportswriters association and beingthe South Dakota Sportswriter of the Year might signal a career inthe newspaper business for some, but not for Lenz, who jumped atthe chance to be the sports information director in Vermillion.

That was November 1972. In 1977, Marshall was searchingfor a person to head the Jackrabbit sports information office. Lenzinterviewed and when offered the job, hesitation wasn’t a word.

“It was like how soon can I start?” he says. “I knew Stan frommeeting him at games and tournaments. I wanted to work for himin the worst way. He was a class individual.”

After nearly three decades, countless games, press releases, andmedia guides, the end has finally come for a man who has loggedmore Jackrabbit hours than anyone in school history. So, what’snext for a person who made a life working long hours?

“I don’t think I can go from sixty to seventy hours a week tonothing, so I’ll look for something more reasonable, like twenty tothirty hours,” Lenz says.

TOP: Ron Lenz throws the ceremonial first pitch at the April 21game at Bob Shelden Field against North Dakota State.ABOVE: Senior pitcher Gary Olechoski offers congratulations. Kyle Johnson

8 • Rabbit tracks

R o n L e n z

Talking about RonHere is what some peoplewho know Ron Lenz besthave to say about thelongtime SDSU sportsinformation director:

“Ron’s loyalty anddedication is unwavering. Iconsider him a true friendand colleague who will bedearly missed.” – Fred Oien, athleticdirector.

“He watched out for every sport and knew deadlinesfor nominations for various post-season awards.” – Brad Erickson, head swimming coach.

“Ron Lenz has been an invaluable part of theJackrabbit broadcasts on WNAX. His pre-gamepreparations, insight, and information passed onduring the games made us sound that much better.He has been a good and dependable friend. Hisblood may be red, but if you checked, his heartwould be yellow and blue.”– Jerry Oster, WNAX Radio, Yankton.

“Ron is a great friend and lunch partner. No one inour Department knows more about the entire realmof SDSU athletics and the related historicalsignificance. It was always fun to go to his office andfind out the latest scoop no matter what the season.”– Jim Booher, head athletic trainer.

“He was always a sportswriter’s best friend, whetherit was making sure you had the stats in your hand ora double cheeseburger on your plate.” – Ron Hoffman, Argus Leader sportswriter.

“He’s the definition of a Jackrabbit. Not only does heknow everything about SDSU, he lives it daily. He’s atrue servant by all the hours he puts in. It’s hard toput into words what he has meant to our team. Wehave worked so closely together on many differentthings. We’re going to miss him a great deal.” – John Stiegelmeier, head football coach.

Compiled by Kyle Johnson“That will leave me more time to myself and family.”

(Editor’s note: Kyle Johnson has been a friend andcolleague of Ron Lenz since 1988, first whenJohnson was sports information director at theUniversity of South Dakota and now as aninformation specialist at SDSU.)

Talkin’ to RonSo many career highsMemorable moments? There have been many for Ron Lenz in his longtenure as sports information director at SDSU.

“It’s hard to single out one or two,” says Lenz, whose personal laurelsinclude induction into the North Central Conference Hall of Fame in1991 and the Warren Berg Award in 1995 from CoSIDA (College SportsInformation Directors of America) for distinguished service below theDivision I level.

Some moments do stand out. Like when ABC brought a MondayNight Football production crew to televise the University of NorthDakota-SDSU football game on a Saturday in 1981 as part of its requiredregional college broadcast coverage and then headed to Minneapolis.

“We won the game but that was almost an after thought,” relatesLenz. “They had a police escort from the football stadium to the airportso they could make their connection in the Twin Cities to get toPittsburgh for the Monday night game.”

He cites the 1984 Jackrabbit baseball team that won the conferenceplayoffs in Mankato, Minnesota, and then hosted and won the program’sonly regional championship.

The 1985 season ranks high, he says, recalling the Hobo Day footballgame when the Jacks defeated number-one ranked USD in front of arecord 16,193 fans at Coughlin Alumni Stadium. Earlier that year, theSDSU basketball team won an NCAA quarterfinal-round game in FrostArena in front of 9,331 fans and went on to play for the nationalchampionship. The game was televised live, which provided for a classicmoment itself when ESPN signed off the air, announcing JacksonvilleState 74, San Diego State 73.

“That’s the only time in my career I was glad to be confused with theother SDSU,” says Lenz, who also points to the more recent football winover Southern in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2004. “What a great winwhen we rallied from an early 21-0 deficit for our first-ever footballvictory against a Division I-AA opponent.” — Kyle Johnson

Lenz at a 1989 baseball game with a phone and an Army ROTC radio.

It’s a puzzling question. How could a young lady who never so much as got groundedin high school be so committed to steal when she entered college? Heather Sieler tookcrime to a new level in her years at SDSU. Her penchant for pilfering has been well

documented, but only five times has she had to pay the full price. No common thief, thesenior from Huron is the school record holder in steals, with her final act of hardwoodhandiwork being witnessed by more than 2,000 people.

Sieler, a four-year starter on the women’s basketball team, finished her career with 281steals, one more than Erin Reiten.

The quick-handed, 5-7 point guard fouled out of only five games in the 124 she hasplayed in at State. In only a few games has she been whistled for more than three foulsdespite averaging twenty-six minutes of play in her career. The statistics are a tribute to hercompetitive fire as well as her athleticism.

A naturally born competitor, Sieler “always wanted to be the best,” says her mom,Janet Sieler.

So whether it is snatching the basketball out of the hands of an opponent orconsuming a textbook, you can expect Sieler to be at the top of the class. She carries a3.973 grade-point average, tainted by a “B” in chemistry, the only one she has received inhigh school or college.

A divine driveCoach Aaron Johnston observes that Sieler has a “strong drive in everything she’s done.” Inaddition to academics and athletics, Sieler has gone to elementary schools to read, and hasbeen part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee on campus.

Hard work has been a part of Sieler’s life as much as her blue-green eyes and blondhair are a part of her image.

But Sieler doesn’t consider herself to be self-made. “God has been a big part of mylife. He has really blessed me and given me a lot of opportunities both in high school andcollege. I did have to work very hard to get to where I am in basketball, but God plays abig part in my life in everything I do.

“He’s opened up a lot of doors for me. I play for God and give him the glory whensomething good happens,” Sieler says.

That attitude grew from her home life. “We always tell the kids to put God first,others second, and yourself last,” Janet Sieler says.

Last, not leastSieler grew up being last, but only chronologically. The “baby” of the Art and Janet Sielerfamily was born August 7, 1983, in Yankton. Her sisters, Jennifer, 31, and Stephanie, 28,still live in Yankton. Her brother, Josh, 26 and a 2005 SDSU grad, lives in Brookings. Thefamily moved to Huron when Heather was in seventh grade.

But it was while in Yankton that Sieler was bitten by the basketball bug.Stephanie Sieler played on the Yankton High School team that was the state runner-

up in 1994. Janet Sieler remembers that Heather “went to all her games when she waslittle, watched her play, and got the love for basketball then. She used to play basketball in

Rabbit tracks • 9

SielerSieler steals top spoton State stat sheet

A well-mannered thief

10 • Rabbit tracks

H e a t h e r S i e l e r

the driveway with her siblings and dad, but they would never lether win just because she was young. I think that’s why she playedaggressive.”

Heather says Stephanie was her role model. It was in thoseearly days when she set a goal to get a scholarship to play at thecollege level.

Helped by high school coachThat goal gained feet at Huron High School. “I definitely learnedmy work ethic from Coach [Tim] Buddenhagen,” whom Sielercalled the greatest influence in her career. “He worked really hardto help Sarita [DeBoer] and me develop as basketball players,”Sieler shared at an end-of-season interview.

DeBoer was a year ahead of Sieler, and also played four yearsat State, finishing with 1,003 points in 108 games.

The work ethic that Buddenhagen instilled on the Tigerhardwood carried over into other sports, Sieler says. She played onstate championship volleyball teams in 1998 and 1999, and wasnamed player of the year by the state coaches association in 2002.

On the track, Sieler was nothing short of spectacular—earningsix varsity letters, winning the state 800-meter title in 1998, 2001,and 2002, running on four state championship relay teams, andthree times running in the prestigious Howard Wood DakotaRelays special event.

Committed to basketballBut Sieler also was an all-state basketball and she knew at SDSUshe wanted to focus her athletic attention on basketball.

At SDSU, she says God has opened doors for her, includingthe opportunity to have an impact on the team in her freshmanyear. She didn’t know what her college experience would be like.“New coaches, new teammates, new system. I hoped I would get toplay my freshman year, but I never expected to start.”

However, when Aaron Johnston filled out the scorebook forthe 2002-03 season opener against the University of Sioux Falls,Sieler’s name was listed among the starters. She started every gameof her career except one, coming off the bench in one game in herjunior year when she was sick.

Good judge of characterJohnston had confidence in Sieler even before she was a Jackrabbit.

In fact, he offered Sieler a scholarship when she was in herjunior year and had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee;

keeping her off thecourt. Sieler recalls thatthe scholarship offercame in a phone callfrom Johnston about aweek after her surgery.“That just blew meaway,” she recalls.

Johnston says,“We were so impressedwith her work ethicand competitiveness.Even with the injury,we felt confident withthe type of person wewere getting.”

Life away frombasketballAs focused as Sieler ison the basketballcourt, the coach sayshis point guard has agood balance. “Whenyou sit and talk withHeather, she has a lot of things going on in her life besidesbasketball. She has a really good sense of humor, laughs at herself,and keeps people around her in light spirits.

“I’ve enjoyed getting to know her as a basketball player, astudent, and a person. I remember how excited she was when shetold me she was engaged,” Johnston says.

That news came during Christmastime. On July 22 she willmarry Ryan Goehner, a University of South Dakota student fromHuron whom she has dated for seven years. In the fall, the healthpromotions major will begin a three-year program at the USDphysical therapy school. Afterwards, Sieler wants to work in theMidwest as a physical therapist and one day start a family.

“My career here went extremely, extremely fast, especially thisseason. . . . There’s no way you can prepare yourself for how fast itgoes. It’s just gone by in the blink of an eye.”

You might say, it vanished as quickly as the basketball thatSieler’s opponent was dribbling.

Dave Graves

Thanks forthe memoriesFrom coast to coast and on dozens of campuses, Heather Sieler hasbeen a front-seat player in some of SDSU women’s basketball mosthistoric moments. The senior point guard reflects on some of hercareer highlights:

The national title, 2003:“Being at the Elite Eight was an awesome experience. Stacie Cizekbanking in that three to send the semifinal game into overtime; playingin the championship game [against Northern Kentucky] and all theSDSU fans there [in St. Joseph, Missouri] to support us.

“It almost seemed unreal. I still don’t think it has sunk in. I’llappreciate it more five to ten years down the road.”

Transition from Division II to Division I:“Playing in the Virgin Islands and getting our first Division I win,” a57-55 defeat of Kentucky, which went on to finish as runner-up in theWomen’s National Invitational Tournament.

Travel:“I like to travel. It’s nice to see different parts of the country and there’sno better way to travel than with twelve or thirteen of your bestfriends.” Traveling was done by air for all the 2005-06 road gamesexcept for those at the University of Nebraska, Drake, and NorthDakota State University.

Her final season:“Being a senior you tend to appreciate things a lot more—all of ourtrips, all of our teammates. I’ve had so much fun playing a fullDivision I schedule.”

Playing with close high school friend Sarita DeBoer:“She’s so mentally and physically tough. She really dedicated and lovesbasketball. She’s very happy, caring, and a fun person to be around.”

Dave Graves

The stat sheet/Heather Sieler#20 Heather Sieler5-7 senior point guardHuron High School,2002Health promotionsmajor

Statmaker:2002-03 7.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 35 games. High: 18 points vs. Briar Cliff. Led team with 93 steals.2003-04 7.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 33 games. High: 16 points vs. Minnesota State-Moorhead andUniversity of South Dakota. Set school record with 35 consecutive free throws, dating back to 2002-03.2004-05 7.8 points, 2.4 rebounds, 28 games. High: 19 points vs. Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne. Career high 10 assists vs. Texas State.

2005-06 9.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 28 games. High: 20 points vs. North Dakota State. 12 rebounds vs. Nebraska.Career: 989/8.0 points, 293/2.4 rebounds, 124 games, 445 assists, 281/2.2 steals.

Career standings:Steals — No 1 (281) one ahead of Erin Reiten, 1993-96.Assists — No. 5 (445) seven ahead of Beth Ommen, 1994-97,Three-pointers — No. 6, (154) one behind former teammate Stacie Cizek.Points — She fell 11 points short of becoming the 26th Jackrabbit to reach 1,000.

Coach Aaron Johnston’s comment: “I’m proud of how she has evolved as a senior andbecome more of a complete player on offense. It’sjust been fun to see that happen.”

Family:Parents — Janet and Art, with American Bank andTrust, Huron.Sister — Jennifer, 31, of Yankton.Sister — Stephanie, 28, of Yankton.Brother — Josh, 26, of Brookings.

Academic honor:In May, Sieler became the eighth Jackrabbit in sevenyears to earn the prestigious NCAA PostgraduateScholarship, which provides a $7,5000 award.

Rabbit tracks • 11

(Above and opposite page, center) Sieler is introduced on senior nightwith her parents, Art and Janet Sieler.

H e a t h e r S i e l e r

It’s sometimes hard to escapeone’s destiny. That’s what CodyNehl was painfully made aware

of while uncomfortably viewing theaction from the spectator seats.

“I just missed it,” he says.“There was something telling methat I needed to do it again. I justlove to compete. It’s in my blood.”

That was Nehl’s thinking fiveyears ago. He has since completedhis wrestling eligibility. This pastseason he was the elder statesman ona young mat squad, a leadership role

of ultimate reversals, especially considering how he felt whenarriving on the SDSU campus.

“People kind of look up to me, like I’ve been there before. I never thought I’d be in this position, but times flies.”

Pondering the futureIn high school, Nehl produced a lofty two-year record of 91-4,including a 47-1 senior slate for the Lemmon Cowboys. It was arecord that caught the eye of numerous collegiate head coaches,including SDSU’s Jason Liles, whose many inquires wentsurprisingly by the wayside.

“I just wasn’t interested,” says Nehl. “He called numeroustimes, but I really wasn’t into it.”

The reason for ignoring the sport that had been his passionsince kindergarten was his mind-set after suffering the only loss as a senior. It occurred in the championship match of the statetournament when Nehl was caught in a front headlock by Clark’sBrent McMillan and was pinned in the first period.

A season of grueling practices, hours spent on the road, aregimented and disciplined work ethic, and not to mention anundefeated season – all gone in a matter of seconds.

“I kind of gave up after that, was bummed out, and didn’twant to do it again,” he says. “Even to this day, I don’t know whathappened. It just got to me mentally more than anything.”

Fortunately for SDSU, Nehl still chose the Brookings campus, because he wanted an engineering education, and plus it meant heeding the advice of his mom who spoke highly of heralma mater.

Rather than hitting the mats, Nehl “had fun” playing rugbyhis freshman year, a sport that fit his athletic makeup, just likewrestling had before.

“I’m kind of a short guy, a little wider, you know,” he says.“I’m a physical guy and like contact. It’s intense. Basketball wasn’tmy thing. I was into football and wrestling.”

Returning to the foldNehl, who kept up a regularweight lifting regime, didn’t voidwrestling from his life entirely. Heattended all the home dual meets,and in doing so, the competitivefire began to burn once again.

“There was something tellingme that I needed to do it again, toprove to myself that I was wrongto give it up in the first place. Ifelt I let myself down, and when I watched those home duals, I saidto myself, ‘Heck, I can do that.’ ”


“I’m glad it turned out

this way. I always

had it in my head

that when I’m forty I

can look back and

say, ‘Hey, that wasn’t

so bad.’ ’’

– Cody Nehl

comes fullcircle for Jacks in wrestling

Nehl

Meanwhile, Liles’ tactic was to leave Nehl alone, to let him decide forhimself when to resume wrestling. “Coach is really a good person about that,”Nehl relates. “He has worked with kids his whole life, and he knows thatpressuring someone is not the way to do it.

“I told him I was interested in coming back, and all he said was, ‘Cometry it and we’ll see how you do.’ I came out that summer and fall and havebeen going ever since. He’s the type of coach who will let you hang out andprove yourself.”

Recalls Liles, “There’s not a whole lot you can say when a high schoolsenior doesn’t show any interest. It’s a tough decision, because college wrestlingis a huge time commitment.

“I knew he was coming to school here and after a year he got ahold of usand wanted to give it a try. We knew if we pressured we probably wouldn’t gethim. We were low key and it worked out.”

Nehl indicates the hardest part when first joining was not the intensetraining, but the strange feeling of not fitting in.

“I was there for my whole freshman year and hung with a completelydifferent crowd,” he says. “In a sport like wrestling, you stick together. I’m apretty laid-back, easy-going guy, and my teammates were accepting, but it wastough going in both directions.”

Proving it on the matNehl wrestled heavyweight his first year due to the Jacks’ lack of numbers. Itwas a weight slot he wasn’t made for, but he held his own, winning nine oftwenty-six matches with two pins.

“I was a little out of my area,” he admits. “It was a real challenge goingagainst guys who usually weighed more than me. I hung in there as best as I could.”

Back at 197 his sophomore year, he went 12-6. Last year he wrestledthirty matches in posting a 17-13 record. He notched seven pins, including a streak of six straight matches with a pin.

Described as a battler as opposed to a technician, although “I can do mymoves,” Nehl is a give-me-your-best-shot type. And, he quickly found out thatDivision I is not like Division II and the North Central Conference.

“Division I is physically a whole new level, another notch up, and moreintense,” he says. “Some are just physically better, but nobody is going to beatme until they prove it. I wrestle my best when I walk out on to the matthinking I have nothing to lose and go after it.”

Jackrabbit wrestlers will be eligible for the Division I championships in2007, two years ahead of the original timeline set by the NCAA. Notcompeting for a conference title or national tournament is not what Nehlthinks about when locking arms with an opponent.

“It wasn’t that big of an issue for me,” he says. “I wanted it for the team,but for me, it was always about the match-up, sizing up the other guy, andgiving it my best effort.”

A good decisionMajoring in agricultural systems technology, Nehl elected not to graduate, butinstead returned for his fourth and final season this year, a campaignhampered with an injury to his right knee. Even so, he finished 15-4, winningtwelve of his last thirteen matches, leading the Jacks with five pins, and beingnamed the team’s most outstanding wrestler.

“He chose to help us out this year, which shows the type of person he is,”Liles says. “He’s been one of our leaders the last two years and just a great kidto have on our team. We’re fortunate he made the decision to come back.”

In hindsight, it was a predictable conclusion. “I’m glad it turned out thisway,” Nehl says. “I always had it in my head that when I’m forty I can lookback and say, ‘Hey, that wasn’t so bad.’ ’’ Kyle Johnson

C o d y N e h l


On the road of dedicationCody Nehl competed in the 197-pounddivision for the Jackrabbits this season. Asenior leader, his success story has beenmarked by miles of hard work, both in theweight room and the road.

He is some 300 miles from the familycattle and horse ranch owned by hisparents, Pat and Deb Nehl (mom is a 1977SDSU graduate). The ranch, which is tenmiles west of McIntosh and thirty-two mileseast of Lemmon, sits squarely on theSouth Dakota-North Dakota boarder. Thenearest town is Watauga (populationtwelve) on the Standing Rock IndianReservation.

A graduate of McIntosh High School,Nehl found his wrestling fortunes atLemmon High School when McIntoshdropped the program after his sophomoreyear. He continued on and made the 100-mile round trip to Lemmon every day forpractice.

The schedule fit nicely since McIntoshlet out school at three and Lemmon at3:30. “It worked out well,” says Nehl. “I gotthere barely in time for practice and gothome around six, just in time for farmchores.”

Kyle Johnson

OniskThe cliché “like mother, like

daughter” rings true forJackrabbit swimmer Mallory

Onisk. A freshman from Bear,Delaware, Onisk cites her motherJulie (Kenefick) Onisk as her greatestinfluence. A breaststroker, JulieOnisk competed on the SouthDakota State swimming and divingteam from 1976 to 1979. Thirtyyears later, her daughter swims forher alma matter.

“My mother has been a veryinfluential person in my life, not

only as a mother, but as a sports model,” says Onisk, whocompetes in the butterfly and individual medley. Her mom stillswims four mornings a week.

“She has shown me continuously what it means to bededicated to what you love, whether it is a person or a sport,” shesays.

“She’s very encouraging, but there’s not pressure. She’s let mehave my own experiences,” says Onisk. She and her mom not onlyshare the same sport and university, but also the same coach.

Brad Erickson, thirty-yearSDSU swimming and divingcoach, sees a lot of Julie in herdaughter.

“[Julie] was a good student,had good leadership,” he says,noting both women are “verysolid, likeable individuals.”

Julie Onisk speaks highly ofErickson, too.

“I have an incredible trust ofBrad. I know him. I know what

he expects,” says Julie, noting that he helps athletes to “develop ashuman beings.”

Erickson says, “[Mallory’s] going to be a very young leader forus. Some are leaders because of their talent, some are just naturalborn leaders—she’s got both.”

Julie Onisk was a school record-holder in her era and traveledto nationals. During her inaugural season, Mallory Onisk hasalready set five individual school records in the 100 and 200butterfly, in the 200 and 400 individual medley, and in the 200freestyle. She swam on four record-setting relay teams as well.

Sharing similar collegiate experiences, Onisk says it’s easy forher and her mom to relate to each other. “Since she was a student-athlete, she knows what it’s like,” says Onisk, explaining thecompetition has changed over the years, especially with the moveto Division I.

Julie Onisk says that it helps knowing the swimmingterminology, but she’s always thought of her bond with Mallory tobe mother/daughter before athlete to athlete.

“My first connection with her is just as a child. I never felt likeshe had to be anything else than just who she was. I’m very gratefulfor having Mallory in my life,” says Julie.

Mallory Onisk says that juggling a college schedule can bedemanding at times. She attends group practices three morningsand five afternoons each week.

“It’s definitely a challenge. I’m doing the best I can. I’ve beendoing it for so many years, it just comes naturally,” says Onisk,who has been swimming competitively for twelve years.

“She is definitely one of the harder workers on the team,” saysErickson.

Onisk credits her parents with teaching her the sport.“My parents started teaching me when I was young. I just fell

in love with it. I can’t express enough how much I enjoy it,” saysOnisk. Her dad, Dale Onisk of Omaha, Nebraska, also swam forthe Jackrabbits. Mallory says he, too, had a profound impact onher swimming career.

“My parents did a really good job of keeping us engaged,” saysOnisk, who has two younger brothers that swim competitively. Shesays she never tired of the swimming because she was involved in


“It just fit really well.

I’m definitely happy

with my decision.

Everyone is so open

and friendly and

understanding and

caring.”

Mallory Onisk

commenting on SDSU

Record-setting daughterfollows in wake of record-setting mother

M y g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e — H e y n e


“Don’tworryabout it.

It’s a longway fromyour heart.”Brad Heyne’shigh schooltrack coachwould tellhim thatwhen Heynecomplainedabout a leg

pain. “Coach Himmerich always had aninteresting optimistic perspective.”

A walk-on for the Jackrabbit track andfield team, Heyne has come to appreciatethe way his high school coach pushed him.

“I saw the words of Coach Himmericha lot those first two weeks [after joining theteam]. The hardest part was the training. Iwasn’t used to that level,” says thesophomore agronomy major from Hosmer.Heyne runs 800-meter and one-mile races.

“Just because you’re tired, you can’tgive up,” says Heyne. “I now realize that itwas his attitude that pushed me on when Idid not want to. Coach Himmerich is theperson that instilled the work ethic in methat I possess today. He always kept hisconfidence and belief in me.”

In addition to mentoring a number ofEdmunds Central High School athletes,

Himmerich taught social science at theschool.

“He made class fun. The thing thatfascinated me about him was that he had alot of stories to tell,” says Heyne. In class,Himmerich would talk of his time in themilitary, and in practice he’d tell stories ofother runners.

Himmerich had a student go to statecompetition following his advice: “If youdon’t let anyone pass you, you’ll win.”

Heyne says, “This student did justthat.”

The stories always motivated andentertained Heyne. “I think it kepteverything light-hearted. He could alwaysmake me laugh,” he says.

Himmerich coached Heyne in crosscountry throughout high school, as well asseventh through tenth grade track. “He gotme into track and helped me figure out myevents. He got me my first success at ayoung age,” says Heyne.

Heyne, a member of the agronomyclub and a residents assistant in HansenHall, finds his greatest athletic challenge istime. “The commitment is the hardest partof it. Every day you’re supposed to go runor go train,” he says.

A five-sport high school athlete, Heynesays he has learned time management.“After being active and being an athlete inhigh school, it was something I missed,”says Heyne, who joined the SDSU team inlate fall his freshman year.

Coach Himmerich may have beenHeyne’s biggest motivator, but he alwayshad a couple of fans in the stands. Eventhough his parents were busy with farmchores they made it to nearly every one ofhis events.

“My parents encouraged me a lot,” hesays. Heyne’s father helped Heyne trainwhen he sustained an injury his senior year.

“Things were not going well. I wokeup early to train a little harder. At seven in

the morning, my dad would get up anddrive the four-wheeler beside me,” he says.

Heyne explains his dad did it out ofsupport, not to push him too hard.

“It was nice that I had the companywith me when I ran,” he says, noting thatboth of his parents were involved with hisathletic career.

“They were always very supportiveand encouraging whether I came in first orif I came in last.”

Miranda Reiman

“Just because you’re tired, you can’t give up.” — Brad Heyne

Freshman Mallory Onisk competes in the butterfly during the October 29, 2005,season opener against Iowa State at the SDSU pool. Onisk, who has set fiveindividual records in her first campaign, calls her mother, who also swam forCoach Brad Erickson, as her greatest influence.

many other school activities like marching band, National Honor Society, andfield hockey. “They were always really supportive and very encouraging of us tobe well-rounded.”

Julie says, “She had a pretty balanced life in terms of trying new things.”Although the family ties didn’t hurt Onisk’s chances of being a Jackrabbit,

the pre-pharmacy student says her decision was made because of the quality ofboth the swimming and pharmacy programs.

“It just fit really well,” she says. “I’m definitely happy with my decision.Everyone is so open and friendly and understanding and caring.”

Miranda Reiman

Heyne Coach’s attitude motivates walk-on

Julie (Kenefick) Onisk, left, and her daughter, MalloryOnisk, both developed their swimming career underCoach Brad Erickson. Mallory, a freshman, calls hermother her greatest influence.


Editor’s note: Rabbit Tracksasked athletes from thewinter sports teams to write afew words about theirgreatest influence. Here is asampling of those wereceived.

Anthony BrownSport: Men’sswimming anddivingYear: FreshmanMajor: MechanicalengineeringHometown: ElkRiver, Minnesota Greatest influence: Ron Brown,father

“No matter how bad or good Idid, he was always there tellingme to keep my head up and tolook at things in the positive. Myfather has always taught me thingsthat I need to learn about life inthe pool, and that is the best wayto learn about things that youcannot learn in school.”

Mackenzie CaseySport: Men’sbasketballYear: SophomoreMajor: UndecidedHometown:Wounded KneeGreatestInfluence: TomCasey, father

“He has always supportedme—through the good times andthe bad—and still does. I try tofollow in his footsteps, because he

works very hard for me, my familyand the people on the Pine RidgeReservation.”

Hannah FerreeSport:Women’sswimming anddivingYear: FreshmanMajor: Healthpromotion/pre-physical therapyHometown:Fairbanks, AlaskaGreatest influence: Dave andRoberta Ferree, parents

“I am blessed with anincredible set of parents. My momand dad have taught me so manyvaluable lessons and skills, andhave taken me on so manydifferent trips. My mom was bornat home in Glenallen, Alaska, on ahomestead, and so being outdoorsruns in her blood. As children, myparents took my younger brotherand me on so many differentoutdoor excursions, includingmultiple day river rafting andfishing trips.

When I was seven and mybrother was four, we took our firstraft trip at home in Alaska. Thistrip was only a three-day trip.Every year since then, we havetaken at least one river trip asummer—all in Alaska—and thelength of the trips have increasedup to nine days.

Some of the things I havelearned from my parents are: tolive life to its fullest, always smile,be appreciative and thankful,respect the wilderness andappreciate its beauty, outdoor

survival skills, determination,devotion, dedication and muchmore. But all these lessonstogether mold to form my successin life in general—high academic,athletic and general success.

My parents support me ineverything I do, often getting up at5 a.m. to take me to swimpractices, waiting at the pool forme to finish practice and going outof their ways to do everything theycan to help me be successful inlife. I am so thankful for mywonderful parents!”

CourtneyGrimsrudSport: Women’sbasketballYear: SophomoreMajor: Biology/pre-medHometown:SissetonGreatest influence: CoryGrimsrud, father and coach

“My dad has coached me eversince I could hold a basketball. Heorganized a traveling team, theSisseton Swoops, for my friendsand me in the fifth grade. Hecontinued to coach us in highschool and helped lead us to threestate championship titles.

Some people wouldn’t likehaving their father as a coach, butI wouldn’t trade my experience foranything. My dad instilled in memany basketball qualities, but themost important thing that I havelearned from him is theimportance of working hard. Hisemphasis on hard work is thereason I am a Jackrabbit today.”

M y g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e

My greatest influence


M y g r e a t e s t i n f l u e n c e

Michael LoneySport: Men’sbasketballYear: Third-yearsophomoreMajor: MatheducationHometown:Humboldt, IowaGreatest influence: RandyArends, sixth to ninth gradebasketball coach

“He was so passionate andemphasized defense much likeCoach Nagy. He really stressedhelp defense, teamwork andhaving fun while playing. He reallyhelped me grasp theunderstanding of basketball.

“At times he yelled so muchand would act very loud, but hewanted us to play so well. Onetime he threw his shoe off indisgust in a game. He expected usto play hard at all times andexpected much from us, which isthe sign of a good coach. Hisinstruction helped me greatly inthe future.

“I am so thankful for theamount of time he spent with us,trying to make us great basketballplayers. Not many parents wouldhave sacrificed so much time andmoney to see us play basketball. Iwill always be thankful for Randy.”

Andrea VerdeganSport:Women’sbasketballYear: SophomoreMajor: PsychologyHometown: GlenFlora, Wisconsin

Greatest influence: MandyBratanich, older cousin

“Mandy has not only impactedmy basketball skills, but also mylife. She took me to open gymsand was my assistant coach at myhigh school. She taught me how tobreak presses and different ball-handling moves.

Mandy always gave meconfidence in basketball and inlife. She was my hero as a kid andI have always looked up to her.There are many people in my lifethat have helped me get where Iam today, and Mandy is definitelyone of those people.”

Megan VogelSport: Women’sbasketballYear: JuniorMajor: Health,physical educationand recreationHometown: St.Peter, MinnesotaGreatest influence: AaronJohnston, women’s basketballcoach

“Most people look to others toenhance their everyday lives. Welook for people who bring out thebest in us. It’s natural.

“Some people are the type thatwe trust with everything that wehold deep inside. Some are thetype who you can call at 2 a.m.,and know they will not blink an eyeto help you out. Others are theones who challenge you every dayto become a better person. Theydo not accept anything less fromyou. These are the ones that holdyou accountable. They force you to

see past your boundaries andshow you what they know you canbecome. Not only because theybelieve it themselves, but becausethey can already see it inside ofyou.

“Rarely do you find someonewho possesses all of thesequalities together. Lucky for me, Ihave. That person is my coach—AJ.”

Blake YackleySport: Men’sbasketballYear: FreshmanMajor: Ag businessHometown: OnidaGreatestinfluence: ToddYackley, father

“My dad has always beenthere pushing me to be better. Foras long as I can remember, he hasbeen the person with advice forme. No matter if there was a winor loss he was the one to tell mewhat I did wrong. I thought therewere times when I played well untilI talked to my dad and he told methe times I messed up. My dadinstilled a great work ethic in meand that is why I am the person Iam today.”

Compiled by Miranda Reiman

Jackrabbit Corporate Partners:Anchor – Avera McKennan, Coca-Cola, Daktronics, First Bank and TrustFounding – ARAMARK, Farm Credit Services of America, Larson Manufacturing, State FarmMajor – Burger King, DeSmet Farm Mutual, First Premier Bank, SD Beef Industry Council, SDSU Bookstore,Northwestern Energy

G O B I G .

G O B L U E .

G O J A C K S .


In Mylo Hellickson’s office, a small appreciation plaque sits on a tall filing cabinet in thecorner of the room. The agricultural engineering professor won’t reveal how he receivedthe plaque, but engraved upon it are words Hellickson lives by.The words of Theodore Roosevelt, delivered in his Man in the Arena speech more than

a century ago, fuel the motivation for Hellickson. “The important thing is doing things,” he says. “I’ve always believed in that. Get into

the action and do something.”Hellickson lives the philosophy he embraces. In addition to teaching, he owns both a

farm and ranch in his native North Dakota, and operates a software company. For the pasttwenty-eight years at SDSU, he has served as faculty athletics representative to the NCAA.

“I just believe in doing things,” he says. “The errors I’m going to make are errors ofcommission, but very few of omission. That’s the way I’ve always felt.”

Hellickson began working as faculty athletics representative in 1977, when then-president Sherwood Berg appointed him. Throughout the years, he has worked under fourdifferent presidents and three athletic directors.

As faculty athletics representative, he works to ensure SDSU complies with NationalCollegiate Athletic Association regulations regarding students’ education.

A boy in love with sportsThe position allows Hellickson to continue to foster his lifelong passion for athletics.Growing up on a ranch near Medora, a town of 100 near the Montana border, Hellicksonrecalls cutting sports pictures out of magazines as a kid.

MyloHellicksonIt is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strongman stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.

The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face ismarred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs andcomes short again and again because there is no effort without error andshortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in aworthy cause, who at his best knows in the end the high achievement oftriumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his placeshall never be with those whose timid and cold souls who know neithervictory nor defeat.

Teddy Roosevelt(from an April 23, 1910, speech)

Words to live byHellickson embraces philosophy of ‘get in the game’

Mylo Hellickson works the 35-second clock at Jackrabbit basketball games.


“In school, I played whatever sportsthere was to play,” he says.After high school, Hellickson attendedNorth Dakota State University, where heplayed shortstop and second base for theBison, and coached Legion baseball. Hisranching background and technical abilityled him to pursue agricultural engineering.

“It was just a natural [choice],” he says.“And I knew pretty well that I was going tomake more money being an engineer thanbeing a baseball player.”

After earning both his bachelor’s andmaster’s degrees in ag engineering fromNDSU (1964 and 1966, respectively),Hellickson studied for his doctorate in WestVirginia (1969). Later that year, he came toSDSU.

“You know, I remember thinking ‘Ithink I’ve died and gone to heaven,’ and Istill feel that way,” he says. “It’s been adream career.”

The faculty athletics representativeposition is in addition to serving as an agengineering professor. For ten years he wasdirector of the Cooperative ExtensionService, and served as head of agengineering from 1982 to 1988.

Following Marshall’s messageWhile a self-admitted “golfaholic,”Hellickson names college basketball as hisfavorite sport to watch. At Jacks’ games, heworks at the scorer’s table, keeping the 35-second clock. “I’ve done that ever sincethere’s been a clock,” he says. The shotclock became a part of college basketball in1985-86.

But Hellickson’s work as facultyathletics representative reaches far beyondFrost Arena.

When he first became faculty athleticsrepresentative, Hellickson recalls having aconversation with Athletic Director StanMarshall, who told him too manyregulations exist to pick and choose from,“so we’re going to follow all of them.”

That’s a policy that has not changed.Hellickson chairs State’s D-I complianceteam made up of various SDSUadministrators.

“It’s been an incredible experience towork with people that are totallycommitted to student-athletes and totallycommitted to following the rules to givestudents the best experience possible and tofield regionally and nationally competitiveteams,” he says.

Hellickson explains,“The major function ofthe SDSU athleticscompliance team is toensure there isappropriate universityoversight. It performsthis function using theexisting SDSU resourcesto the maximum extentpossible. Thecampuswide cooperationhas been exceptional and the system isbeing adopted by institutions across thecountry.”

Committed to a clean program“SDSU’s record of compliance with NCAAand conference regulations has been theenvy of programs all across the nation.

“Everyone can make mistakes of themind, but if you’re really committed . . .you aren’t going to make the kinds ofmistakes that are going to cause youtrouble,” he says.

The teamwork Hellickson finds amongadministrators and faculty at SDSUremains one of his favorite parts of hiswork. Another advantage, Hellickson says,is working with people at all levels withinthe NCAA.

Giving, receiving awardsVoting at various NCAA and conferencemeetings falls under Hellickson’s jobdescription as well. Working with people

like well-known coaches can beintimidating at first, he says, but “Iimmediately found that the more successful these people were, the easier they were to work with.

“These people have people skills thatare just beautiful to see.”

Another personal highlight forHellickson is serving on an NCAA regionalscholarship committee, that helps awardscholarships to student-athletes pursuing

graduate school. Eachyear, 174 studentsnationwide receive thescholarships, which arebased equally onacademics andathletics, Hellicksonsays.

SDSU student-athletes have receivedthe prestigious NCAAPostgraduate Scholar

award for the past seven years.“When you start reading the

accomplishments of these student athletes. . . it’s an incredibly rewarding experienceto do that. You can really, really be proud.”

In 1990, Hellickson received theMeritorious Service Award from the NorthCentral Conference.

Helping create equal opportunities forfemale athletes ranks among Hellickson’scareer highs as well.

“To see the women integrated into theNCAA . . . that’s a personal highlight justto see that,” he says. “Let’s give people theirdreams or at least an opportunity forthem.”

SDSU, like other universities, willcontinue to face challenges like trackingacademic progress and debating scholarshipnumbers, according to Hellickson.

While some may see these issues astroubling concerns, Hellickson describesthem this way: “Challenges areopportunities.”

Denise Watt

M y l o H e l l i c k s o n

“I just believe in doing

things. The errors I’m

going to make are errors

of commission, but very

few of omission.”

Mylo Hellickson


For Jona Kulesza, two-a-daypractices were a way of life. Asher teammates practiced on

the track above her, Kulesza put inher time on the hardwood floor asan athletic training student for thewomen’s basketball team.

A typical day for the seniorathletic training major from RapidCity included classes from themorning until women’s basketballpractice in mid-afternoon. Thatfinished up around 7 to 7:30 p.m.

“Then I usually met with the[jumps] coach and practiced on my own. It kept me really busy,”says Kulesza, who competed in the long jump and triple jump.“Some days practice got me rejuvenated and focused.”

First-year jumps coach Greg Binstock calls Kulesza “a verydetermined athlete.”

“It was sometimes tough on her, but she kept a positiveattitude. She felt honored that they’ll let her do both,” he says,noting that her academic commitment to the athletic trainingprogram has to take center stage.

When it came to basketball games versus track meets, Kuleszausually stayed with the basketball team.

“It was pretty good. Usually [the women’s basketball players]were gone on weekends and I traveled with my team. When therewas a conflict, I was able to work it out,” says Kulesza. She’s onlymissed a few indoor track meets.

As one of two athletic training students, Kulesza traveled withthe team to the University of Nebraska, Drake University, and theUniversity of California-Riverside.

During practices and basketball games, Kulesza gainedexperience assisting a certified athletic trainer evaluating injuries,treating many minor injuries by icing and taping them, andcompleting a host of other tasks.

Aaron Johnston, head women’s basketball coach, says heenjoyed working with Kulesza and following her progress in track.

“She was a real pleasure. She worked very hard [as an athletictraining student],” he says.

The arrival of spring didn’t free her up to concentrate solely astrack. She also worked as a spring football athletic-training student.

The two-sport arrangement worked because of Kulesza’spersonality, says Binstock.

“She’s a goal-setter, a very hard worker and she’ll do whatever’sasked of her. She always finds time to practice. Track is still a highpriority for her.”

Kulesza says this work ethic has developed out of necessity of participating in track, soccer, gymnastics and cheerleading inhigh school.

This year, Kulesza says she missed some of the benefits of ateam. “It really made me have to push myself,” Kulesza says. “My teammates were really supportive,” she adds. When otherathletes needed to miss a practice, they often asked to make it up with Kulesza.

“Its always hard to workout by yourself. You perform betterwith teammates,” says Binstock. He appreciates the team practicetime when Kulesza was present.

“She encouraged her teammates. The team really respects her.She really led by example,” he says. “I always liked having her atpractice. It was a better practice. She just brought an intensity toit,” says Binstock.

Kulesza says her senior year experience will help her as sheattends chiropractic school in the Twin Cities this fall.

“I think it definitely will help, because being so busy I’ve hadto manage my time,” she says.

Miranda Reiman

KuleszaDoing double dutyLong jumper leapsbetween track,student-training roles

Jona Kulesza flies down the long jump runway at Howard WoodField at the 81st Dakota Relays in Sioux Falls in May 2005. Thesenior athletic training major also spent time at practices for thewomen’s basketball team and the spring football program.

This year the NCAA is celebrating twosignificant events: 100 Years –Celebrating the Student-Athlete and the25th Year of Women’s Championships.

These two milestones in the history of the NCAA aresignificant in that they represent collegiate institutionscommitment to excellence for all student-athletes. The growth of opportunity for student-athletes toexperience the joy of sport while pursuing anacademic degree occurs nowhere else in the world like it does for student-athletes in our universities.

President Theodore Roosevelt summoned collegeathletics leaders to two White House conferences toencourage reform in intercollegiate athletics. Sport atuniversities had reached a point where the integrity ofthe game was eroding and student welfare was injeopardy.

In early December 1905, Chancellor Henry M.MacCracken of New York University convened ameeting of thirteen institutions to initiate changes infootball playing rules. At a subsequent meeting onDecember 28 in New York City, the IntercollegiateAthletic Association of the United States was foundedby sixty-two members. It later was renamed theNational Collegiate Athletic Association.

Out of a desire to protect the integrity ofintercollegiate athletics, President Roosevelt called on

leaders to set a path for a higher standard of faircompetition and protection for the student-athlete’swelfare. Likewise in 1981, a similar path was followedinvolving intercollegiate sport for women, whenmembers of the Association for IntercollegiateAthletics for Women (AIAW) voted to merge with theNCAA in order to provide like opportunities forfemale student-athletes.

South Dakota State University is proud to be amember of the NCAA. The many programs that areprovided as well as the highly visible championshipopportunities have given our Jackrabbit student-athletes an opportunity to grow and excel as theypursue a degree.

Student-athlete welfare is at the core of the NCAA’smembership mission. Today academic standards forstudent-athletes are the highest they have ever been. Asa result, graduation rates have never been higher andremain substantially higher than the studentpopulation as a whole. Participation has grown to anall-time high for men and women student-athletes.

It is time to celebrate and embrace these historicalmilestones of the NCAA and, more importantly, tocelebrate the athletic and academic integrity theassociation has brought to intercollegiate athletics.

A message from Fred Oien

Fred OienSDSU Athletic Director


Celebrating athletic,academic integrity

A message from Keith Mahlum

Terminology and numbers are a huge part of sports. We use specific wordsto describe participants on athletic teams. We know the “quarterback,”“setter,” “goalie,” “forward,” “heavyweight,” “sprinter,” or “pitcher.” We honorthese athletes for the statistics accumulated during competition. Scoring titles,all-conference selections and hall of fame inductions are the end products ofoutstanding athletic achievement. These talented athletes are identifiedfrequently only by the numbers on their uniforms.

If you take a deeper look, the aforementioned information only partiallydescribes the members of our athletic teams. Another fascinating storylineinvolving these talented men and women is often overshadowed, but

certainly should not go unnoticed. The talented Jackrabbits that wear the yellow and bluealso are college students and we know them as “biology, public recreation, electricalengineering, early childhood education, nursing, and pharmacy majors.” The academicstatistics they accumulate in Accounting 211, Chemistry 112 and Math 225 are quiteimpressive. Their success in the classroom leads to spots on the dean’s list and in varioushonor societies. These students are classified by numbers associated with their test scores,grade-point averages and graduation rates, not forty-yard dash times.

We currently have more than 400 student-athletes in our program participating intwenty-one sports (eleven women, ten men). These student-athletes are enrolled in morethan eighty different majors, have a collective cumulative GPA of more than 3.00 andannually achieve graduation rates significantly higher than the national averages at alllevels of NCAA classification. At SDSU, we believe in combining elite athleticcompetition with a challenging educational experience, and it’s working.

So the next time you are watching or listening to your favorite Jackrabbit athletic eventand cheering for No. 21, 5 or 66, take pride in knowing that the “outside hitter,” “guard”or “shortstop” in uniform is also a Jackrabbit student diligently preparing to become aneducator, researcher, entrepreneur or future leader of your community.

Keith MahlumSDSU Assistant to AthleticDirector/Development Director


Talking the talkand walking the walk

P a s s i o n a t e . R e l e n t l e s s . C h a m p i o n s .G O B I G . G O B L U E . G O J A C K S .

1 0 0 Ye a r s. . .

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE PAIDBROOKINGS SDPERMIT 24

South Dakota State UniversityAthletics DepartmentBox 2820Brookings, SD 57007-1497


Jackrabbit fans can now purchase tickets for all the homegames online. For more information, go to:

www.gojacks.com

C M Y K

RABBITRABBITtracks

P

Volume 12, No. 1 South Dakota State University Spring 2006

spring 2006 rabbit tracks

Documents

s s i o n

women studentathletes

jackrabbit studentathletes

p i o n s

studentathletes toexperience

student welfare

studentathlete welfare

athletic teams