Wolsey-Wessington bench players slide onto the court to celebrate a kill as their coach Lindy Uttecht, standing, applauds the play during Thursday’s Class B match against Burke at the South Dakota State Volleyball Tournament at the Summit Arena in Rapid City. Photo by John Davis taken 11/16/2023
At the end of the each year newspapers (google it, they used to be a thing, a thing I spent most of my life working at, but I digress) and other publications would feature the photos of the year, stories of the year and other features that looked back on the past 365 days.
These reflections offered a chance to reminisce about what happened, but more importantly for the publication it gave them content to publish because there was very little happening during the holiday season and most of the staff was out of town visiting family.
So not being one to buck tradition, you will find featured here a collection of images I took in 2023. Most of them are self explanatory and many are just the joy and heartbreak found in the results from the playing field.
Please enjoy this look back and if you have the time and are looking on your computer, select some of the images that show larger crowds and take a closer look at some of the spectators in the backgrounds. It is often interesting to see the variety of reactions on faces.
Happy Holidays and thanks again for subscribing and being a part of SDSportscene.
Jack Henry, of Dell Rapids, top left, throws the ball to teammate Dylan Kindt, foreground left, after making the force out at second base on Redfield’s Owen Osborn, far right, during Sunday’s game at the South Dakota American Legion Class B State Tournament in Redfield. Henry’s throw to first was not in time to complete the double play attempt. Photo by John Davis taken 7/30/2023 Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s Ethen Fagerness, far left, takes a free kick as Aberdeen Central’s Tyler Bain (14), Creighton Aberle (3), Hunter Erickson, center and Philip Abel, right, leap into the air on defense during Tuesday’s match at Brownell Activities Complex. In the foreground for Central watching the play is Manuel Munoz (21). Fagerness’ kick sailed over the goal on the kick. Photo by John Davis taken 9/5/2023Aberdeen Central goal keeper Ciara Frank (00) reaches to slap the ball away between Sioux Falls Roosevelt’s Aubrey Gallipo (17) and Peyton Pearson (12) during Tuesday’s match at Brownell Activities Complex. Looking on for Roosevelt at far left is Lily Tadlock (15) and in on the play for Aberdeen are Kirra Stillman (26) and Bailey DeGroot (18). Photo by John Davis taken 9/5/2023Aberdeen Roncalli’s Will Haskell, left and Josh Schaunaman, right, try to tackle Dakota Hills’ Dylan Rumpza, center, during a game earlier this season at Dacotah Bank Stadium. Photo by John Davis taken 9/8/2023Northern State University’s Brett Brenton (4) tries to hurdle University of Mary’s Abram Jopp (39) during Saturday’s game at Dacotah Bank Stadium. In on the play for the Wolves are Tanner Reddan (66) and Dewaylon Ingram (12). At far right for the Marauders is Seth Jarrett (29). Photo by John Davis taken 9/16/2023Maeve Boetel, second from the left on the floor, gets swarmed by her Sioux Falls O’Gorman teammates and coaches after she received a perfect 10.00 from one of the vault judges during Saturday’s Class AA Individual Competition at the South Dakota State Gymnastics Meet at Golden Eagles Arena. Photo by John Davis taken 2/11/2023The Presentation College women tipped off with Mayville State University Thursday night at the Strode Activity Center. The Saints womens and mens basketball teams played their final home games as the college is slated to close later this summer. Photo by John Davis taken 2/16/2023Hamlin’s Kami Wadsworth (20), Emily Everson (15), Addison Neuendorf (3) and Marissa Bawdon (23) celebrate as the clock expires at the end of Saturday night’s Class A Girls State Championship game in Watertown. Hamlin defeated Wagner 58-55 for the title. Photo by John Davis taken 3/11/2023Aberdeen Central’s Kaylee Kiesow plays a ball off the centerfield wall during Thursday’s game against Brookings at Koehler Hall of Fame Field. Photo by John Davis taken 4/13/2023Potter County’s Emma Schlachter (2257) makes the sign of the cross as she looks skyward after crossing the finish line in the Class B 1600 meter relay Saturday at the South Dakota State Track and Field Championships at Howard Wood Field in SIoux Falls. Photo by John Davis taken 5/26/2023Wyatt Ewalt, of the HCSC Rattlers, right, reacts to his kick on goal going wide past Bismarck Magic Green’s Meshach Treybig (67), Tobias Griffin, center and goal keeper Kylon Samuelson during overtime of their 9-10 championship game at the Dacotah Bank Cup soccer tournament Sunday at Moccasin Creek Soccer Complex. Photo by John Davis taken 6/25/2023Jaren Wibstad, of Jamestown, drives past the tire used to designate the inside of the track between turns three and four after the tire was hit and began to roll through turn four in the third heat of Midwest Modified action Saturday night at Brown County Speedway. Photo by John Davis taken 8/26/2023Aberdeen Central’s Joe Perkins (10) bolts out to the lead at the start of the Class AA race Saturday at the 2023 State Cross Country Meet at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls. Photo by John Davis taken 10/21/2023Members of the Castlewood softball team celebrate and rush in on their coach Craig Horn as he lifts the championship trophy after Saturday’s Class B championship game against Alcester-Hudson at the SDHSAA State Softball Tournament at Players Field South. Photo by John Davis taken 6/3/2023Hamlin’s Luke Fraser reacts after crossing the finish line in the Class A 1600 meter relay Saturday at the State Track and Field Meet at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. Photo by John Davis taken 5/27/2023Warner’s Zachary Evans, center, celebrates after recovering a fumble inside the five yard line early in Thursday’s Class 9A game at the South Dakota High School Football Championships in the DakotaDome in Vermillion. In on the play are the Monarchs’ Brodey Sauerwein (3) and Hunter Robinson (88), at right is Deubrook Area’s Vebrand Gangas (11). Photo by John Davis taken 11/9/2023Miller volleyball coach Linda DeBoer (sideline center) celebrates with her players as they won set five 15-12 over Wagner during Thursday’s Class A match at the South Dakota State Volleyball Tournament at the Summit Arena in Rapid City. On the court for the Rustlers are Jolie Palmer (18), Journey Palmer (7), Heather Resel (13), Gracen Werdel (3) and Shaylee Anderberg, top right. Photo by John Davis taken 11/16/2023Leonid Bulgakov, of the Aberdeen Wings, on the ice right, watches as the puck he shot gets past Minot Minotauros goalie Brady James, left, for the first goal of the night during the first period of Friday night’s game at the Odde Ice Center. In on the play for the Minotauros are Ty James, center and Niklas Ketonen, far right. Photo by John Davis taken 12/1/2023Northern State University head football coach Mike Schmidt, far right, celebrates as Colt Smith (59 white) hugs teammate William Berry (75) after it was announced Smith had received a scholarship position on the team before Saturday’s Spring Game at Dacotah Bank Stadium. According to Schmidt Smith has been a walk-on for the team for two years and is beloved by the team. Photo by John Davis taken 4/22/2023Webster Area’s Drew Reetz tries to clear the bar at 14 feet six inches during the Class A pole vault Friday at the South Dakota State Track and Field Championships at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. Photo by John Davis taken 5/26/2023Brookings’ Gracie Adamson, back center, celebrates with teammate Ava Sandine, far left, after Adamson hit a two-run home run in Friday’s Class AA semifinal game against Brandon Valley at the South Dakota State Softball Tournament at Koehler Hall of Fame Field. Photo by John Davis taken 6/2/2023Members of the Chester volleyball team, left, celebrate after winning the fifth set in Saturday’s Class B championship match over Warner at the South Dakota State Volleyball Tournament at the Summit Arena in Rapid City. Photo by John Davis taken 11/18/2023
