LOCAL ATHLETES EARN POSTSEASON ACCOLADES
A number of local student-athletes have earned postseason accolades for their efforts during the 2020 fall sports season.
Those players include, for volleyball: Rijjy Peterson, Odalite Pankratz and Kate Miller from Freeman Public; Alivea Weber and Maria Cortes from Freeman Academy/Marion and Jesse Munkvold, Kaylie Schempp and Kylie Harriman from Menno.
For football, they include Tyce Ortman, Clayton Smith, Cole Papendick, Logan Katzer, Isiah Robertson and Blake Anderson from Canistota/Freeman and Treyton Sayler and Logan Langrock from Menno/Marion.
Freeman Academy’s Gavin Haggerty was also recognized for his play on the soccer field.
Here’s a closer look.
Volleyball
Volleyball players from Freeman Public and Menno were honored through the Cornbelt Conference All-Conference teams, of which there are three.
1st Team
Julia Weber, B-E (MVP)
Rijjy Peterson, Freeman
Piper Thompson, Howard
Jesse Munkvold, Menno
Kerrigan Schultz, B-E
Emma McDonald, I/W
Mackenzie Krinke, Canistota
2nd Team
Odalite Pankratz, Freeman
Nora O’Malley, I/W
Taylor Schallenkamp, B-E
Kate Connor, Howard
Coral Mason, V-H
Andrea Thelen, Hanson
Lexi Tieszen, Canistota
3rd Team:
Emma Rudabush, Howard
Kate Miller, Freeman
Kaylie Schempp, Menno
Cara Meyer, B-E
Willa Freeman, I/W
Sara Hofer, B-E
Kylie Harriman, Menno
Freeman Academy’s players were recognized through the Great Plains Conference; Weber was named to the all-conference team while Cortes was listed as an honorable mention.
Football
A number of different organizations have announced football awards in recent weeks.
The 2020 Cornbelt Confernce All-Conference teams include Ortman (LB), Smith (DE) and Katzer (TE) on the first team for Canistota/Freeman while Papendick (OL), Robertson (DB) and Anderson (LB) were named to the second team.
Sayler (FB) was named to the first team while Langrock (OL) was named to the second team for Menno/Marion.
The Pride also had five players named to the South Dakota Football Coaches Association All-State Team: Ortman (QB), Smith (OL), Papendick (OL), Katzer (LB) and Robertson (DB).
Sayler was listed as an honorable mention.
Ortman was also named 9A Player of the Year. Here’s the reporting from the Argus Leader.
Following a 2020 season which saw him rush for over 1,000 yards, throw for over 750 and account for 34 total touchdowns, Canistota/Freeman quarterback Tyce Ortman was named Class 9A all-state player of the year by the South Dakota Football Coaches Association.
Ortman graduates with 155 solo tackles, 5.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, eight fumble recoveries, 18 touchdowns and three defensive touchdowns. On offense, the versatile talent accounted for 2,799 rushing yards, 1,026 receiving yards, 822 passing yards and 68 total touchdowns.
“Tyce has a nose for the football and the best closing speed of any defensive player I have had the privilege to coach,” coach James Strang said of the three-time state champion. “He took the field as a freshman when we got banged up and hasn’t left the field since… He’s everything a coach could ask for.”
Finally, Ortman and Smith were both named to the Argus Leader Elite 45, an annual rundown of South Dakota’s best football players regardless of classification. Papendick was an honorable mention.
The Elite 45 was announced the day before Thanksgiving. Here is the Argus Leader’s take.
Tyce Ortman (QB-LB)
Ortman was pushed into the lineup as a freshman and he stayed there for the rest of his career. A three-time state champion, he graduates with 155 solo tackles, 5.5 sacks, 34 tackles for loss, eight fumble recoveries, 18 touchdowns and three defensive touchdowns. On offense, the versatile talent accounted for 2,799 rushing yards, 1,026 receiving yards, 822 passing yards and 68 total touchdowns.
“Tyce has a nose for the football and unmatched closing speed,” coach James Strang said. “He’s everything a coach could ask for. He is humble, hard-working, and fully committed to everything he does.”
Clayton Smith (OL-DL)
Smith was responsible for establishing the “One block isn’t enough, get two” mindset that the three-time state champion Pride’s front line adopted. In Smith’s three seasons, the team rushed for over 13,000 yards and scored 1,510 points. He was a critical contributor defensively, as well, recording 75.5 tackles, 13 sacks and 35 tackles for loss over the course of his career.
“Clayton is a hammer,” Strang said. “He does a great job stacking edges and playing off of double teams. He pulls and powers with great speed and finishes blocks in the open field.”
Soccer
Haggerty, a senior, was listed as an honorable mention on this year’s Class A All-State Team even though Freeman Academy did not play a varsity season. He was listed alongside players from much larger schools, including Sioux Falls Christian, Tea Area and Vermillion.
