A look back at some of the sports happenings during the week of Dec. 11-17:

Last year on Dec. 11, 2021: The Pierre boys opened their season with a 68-38 win over Rapid City Stevens. Pierre is coached by 24-year-old Aberdeen Central and Northern State graduate Brianna Kusler, the first woman in state history to coach a Class AA boys’ basketball team.

10 years ago on Dec. 15, 2012: The South Dakota saddle bronc horse Chuckulator dominated the 2012 pro rodeo season. The 8-year-old bay stallion bred by Sutton Rodeos of Onida was voted the top saddle bronc horse at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. On Oct. 23, the horse was named the Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association Saddle Bronc Horse of the Year. It marked the first time in eight years that a saddle bronc horse has won both honors in the same year and just the seventh time in the 54-year
history of the NFR.

20 years ago on Dec. 11, 2002: Sioux Falls Lincoln freshman Erin McKeown became the first high school girl wrestler in South Dakota history. She competed in a sub-varsity match against boys and went 1-1.

30 years ago on Dec. 11, 1992: The Rapid City Thrillers opened the Continental Basketball Association season with an 11-0 record, thanks to a 111-108 decision over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Although coach Eric Musselman’s Thrillers would lose their next game, the 11 wins in a row broke the franchise record of nine in a row set in 1986-87, when his dad, Bill Musselman, coached the Thrillers (then located in Tampa Bay).

40 years ago on Dec. 13, 1982: Coach Bruce Olson and his Webster Bearcats are off to a surprising 3-0 start, thanks to the efforts of starters Scott Jesme, Lane Kurle, David Wirtz, Ken Schuster, Shawn Bergan and others. Last March, the Bearcats won the boys’ basketball State B championship, going 23-3 behind seniors such as Lonni Stover, Kip Bollinger, Jerry and Jim Burns and Lenny Block.

50 years ago on Dec. 17, 1972: The Northern football team finished ninth in the NAIA nation in total defense this past season, led by NAIA All-American honorable mention selections Leon Breske (defensive end) and Randy Nelson (defensive tackle).