Several area athletic directors were among those honored by the South Dakota High School Athletic Administrators Association.

Gene Brownell of Aberdeen Central was selected the Region 1 Athletic Director of the Year, Jeff Kosters of Frederick was chosen the Region 2A Athletic Director of the Year, and Bill Barrie of Hitchcock-Tulare was named the Region 4 Athletic Director of the Year.

Other region winners included Steve Erickson of Elkton in Region 3, Eric Smart of Tri-Valley in Region 5, Cory Aadland of Mitchell in Region 6, Neil Goter of Wagner in Region 7, and Jared Vasquez of Rapid City Stevens in Region 8.

Aadland also won the Steve Berseth Development Award for 2021.

Terry Rotert of Huron was the SDIAAA Athletic Director of the Year for 2020.

The NIAAA State Merit Award for 2021 went to Randy Soma of Brookings, while the NIAAA Distinguished Service Award Nominee for 2021 is Joey Struwe of Sioux Falls Lincoln. The NFHS Citation Award Nominee for 2021 is Randy Marso of Brandon Valley.

Those being honored with NIAAA Years of Service Awards are Steve Kueter of O’Gorman (35 years), Joey Struwe of Sioux Falls Lincoln (25 years), Jim Groen of Sioux Falls Christian (20 years), Jeremy Chicoine of Sully Buttes (20 years), Eric Denning of Mount Vernon-Plankinton (15 years), Greg Pedersen of Sunshine Bible Academy (15 years), and Brent Mareska of Tiospaye Topa (15 years).

Retiring Athletic Directors include Gene Brownell of Aberdeen Central (23 years), Randy Marso of Brandon Valley (23 years), Jennifer Boomsma-Kelsey of Wolsey-Wessington (22 years), Rocky Brinkman of Andes Central-Dakota Christian (15 years), and Dan Leikvold of Lead-Deadwood (4 years).

The SDIAAA Hall of Fame Class will be announced at a later date.