The 2022-23 Dakota State University Trojan women’s basketball team had one of the most historic seasons in program history, with numerous records set in the school record books. The Trojans advanced to the NAIA national seminals for the rst time in school history before falling to eventual national champion Clarke (Iowa).

The Dakota Valley girls and boys track squads represented well at the first outdoor meet of the season at Elk Point-Jefferson on Monday, April 3. The Panther girls were runner-ups at the meet behind Colman-Egan, while the Panther boys finished 4th as a team.

It was on Thursday, April 6 that senior Jaxon Hennies, of Dakota Valley, signed his commitment letter to play basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University (DWU) in Mitchell, SD. “I chose Dakota Wesleyan because I thought it would give me the best chance to succeed academically along with athletically,” Hennies commented.

Mackenzie Keizer, a senior at Dakota Valley and resident of Dakota Dunes, signed with the dance and cheer teams at Morningside University on Thursday, April 6. Keizer was a part of the state championship dance team for Dakota Valley. She was also a pupil at 5678! Dance Studio in North Sioux City under the direction of owner, instructor and coach Melissa Strong.

Thursday, April 6 was a big day for Dakota Wesleyan University’s (DWU) mens basketball team as Randy Rosenquist, a Dakota Valley senior, signed to play there for his college career. His older sister, Rylee, already plays basketball at DWU and was an All-GPAC Honorable Mention in her first season on campus in Mitchell, SD.

Dakota Valley athletes named to all-state 11A teams from the South Dakota High School Football Coaches Association were: Offense: WR: Jaxon Hennies (SR); and Defense: DB: Randy Rosenquist (SR); and Honorable Mention: Ethan Anema (SR).

In a tight home game versus the Centerville Tornadoes, on Monday, April 3, the Panthers baseball team closed out with a win. The contest would be tied throughout the fifirst 3 innings. Scores by the Panthers in the 4th and 6th innings would give DV the victory by a fifinal of 5- 2.

The Panther softball team was able to stay close to home for their 3rd contest of the season. Originally, the game on Monday, April 3 was slated to take place at Tri-Valley, but instead Dakota Valley hosted due to harsh weather up north.

The Husky girls (and two boys) made the short trek to Vermillion to participate in the Dan Lennon Invitational Track meet on Tuesday, March 28. This is the lone indoor meet on the official EPJ schedule.

The South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association has announced the 2023 Coaches of the Year. The award winners include: Region 5-8 Lower Level Boys Coach: Gary Nebelsick Elk Point-Jefferson School and Region 6: Assistant Boys Coach: Zach Ronning Elk Point-Jefferson High School.