A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of May 26-June 1:

Last year on May 28-31, 2023: Within three days, the community of Miller lost two long-time coaches and educators. Hall of Fame coach Bob Schroeder of Miller died two weeks after he turned 100 on May 28 and Gerry Hunter, 76, died May 31. Schroeder, who was a standout athlete at Miller and USD, coached and taught at Miller for 41 years (1944-1985). His football teams had eight undefeated seasons, including a 29-game winning streak, and his 1946 Miller team was considered one of the best in the nation. His 1949 Miller basketball team won a state title with an undefeated season. Schroeder coached numerous state track champions as well at Miller. He helped start the Miller golf and wrestling programs. Hunter died after spending 41 years (1968-2009) as a Miller coach, teacher and administrator. Hunter, a De Smet native who ran track at SDSU and Huron College, coached a number of sports at Miller as well as serving as the school’s athletic director for more than a decade.

10 years ago on May 31, 2014: Ipswich freshman Macy Heinz has now won or been a part of 11 state track titles, one runner-up finish, three MVP awards and three team titles.

20 years ago on May 31, 2004: The Aberdeen Smittys won their first high school baseball State A championship with two comeback wins in the finals and semifinals. Tourney MVP Brian White went 4-for-5 with three doubles to pace the Smittys past second-seeded Yankton 8-4 in the championship game. In the 8-5 semifinal win over top seeded Brookings, Taylor Mehlhaff propelled Aberdeen with his grand slam.

20 years ago bonus on May 29, 2004: Shannon Hellman of Douglas was well ahead of the field in the Class AA 300-meter hurdle finals when she clipped a hurdle. Hellman did a full somersault that would have made any gymnast proud and rolled back up in the upright position all while staying in her lane. She not only finished the race, but still managed to win by a little more than a half second.

30 years ago on May 28, 1994: The Hoven girls won the State B Track and Field Championship in Rapid City behind the MVP performance of Amy Van Dyke. Ipswich won the State B boys’ title with 52 points followed by Lyman (50), Menno (48), Canistota (46) and Emery (44). Todd Miller of the Ipswich boys won the 1,600 and 3,200 meters and helped the Tigers win the medley relay and finish second in the 3,200-meter relay.

40 years ago on May 28, 1984: Two South Dakota college baseball teams recorded one of the best seasons in their respective programs. SDSU’s season ended in the NCAA DII six-team national tourney in Riverside (CA) while NSU’s season ended at 17-16 in the NAIA Area III national regionals in Tulsa (OK). SDSU (27-13) not only won the North Central Conference, the Jacks also hosted and won the Midwest Regional on May 19 in Brookings. First-year SDSU coach Mark Ekeland’s Jacks were led by Mark Hofer on
the mound and at the plate by Larry Heffley (.380), Daryl Deneke (.362), Dave Lane (.333) and Hofer (.318). The Jacks were only the second NCC team (Mankato in 1971) to advance to the national tourney.

On May 10, NSU won the District 12 tourney to advance to the regionals. The Wolves defeated Sioux Falls 11-2 and 12-5 in the best-of-three series. Dan Stier pitched a four-hitter with 14 strikeouts in the first game, and he came on in relief in the second game to become the winning pitcher of that game as well. At the plate, Stier had four RBIs in the first game and he hit a home run in each game. Wayne Schmidt lead the Wolves in hitting (.347) that season while Stier had a .345 average. NSU coach Bart Berndt is now 325-297 in his 16th season.

50 years ago on June 1, 1974: Rollie Greeno Jr. of Jamestown won the high school mile in record fashion (4:15.4) at the annual prestigious Aberdeen Cosmos-AAU Track Championships. His uncle, Langford and NSU graduate Rollie Greeno — head track coach at Sioux Falls Lincoln, won the masters’ over 35 two-mile in record time (11:07.1) as well. In that masters’ race, Rich’s brother, Rollie Greeno Sr., was fourth and Bob Salmi of Aberdeen was fifth. Athletes from numerous states and Canada participated.