Here are a few fun facts in anticipation of tonight’s Class 9AA championship game between Canistota/Freeman and Platte-Geddes.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER Tage Ortman was in middle school when his oldest brother, Trey, led Canistota/Freeman to back-to-back football championships in 2018 and 2019, and a freshman last year when his other brother, Tyce, quarterbacked the Pride to a third-straight Class 9A title. This Thursday in Vermillion, the youngest of the three Ortman boys will have his chance to lead Canistota/Freeman to glory once again — this time in the Class 9AA ranks.

No. 11 Canistota/Freeman (7-4) will face No. 9 Platte-Geddes (9-2) tonight (Nov. 9) for the Class 9AA championship. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at the DakotaDome. Doors open one hour prior to the start of the game and tickets will be available for purchase at the gate. Like all the championship games, the 9AA championship will be televised by South Dakota Public Broadcasting and can be heard on 107.3 FM and 98.3 FM, both out of Mitchell. Canistota/Freeman’s cheering section will be on the east side of the DakotaDome.

Freeman High School led at least once in each set and fought hard against a dangerous Arlington team, but couldn’t hang with senior hitter Hadley Carlson, senior setter Grace Parry and the Cardinals. Carlson tallied 30 kills and Parry had 40 set assists to lead No. 3 Arlington to a 3-1 win over No. 14 Freeman in the SoDak 16 Tuesday night, Nov. 9 at Sioux Valley.

An upset-minded, senior-heavy Irene-Wakonda played really well against Freeman Public on Thursday night. The Flyers played just a little bit better.

JEREMY WALTNER  - PUBLISHER It was the third set of Freeman Academy/Marion’s Region 5B match at Centerville on Monday night and the Bearcats were winning. Players were covering the court, connecting at the net and cheering each other on, smiling through a lead that stood at 9-4, then 12-7, then 15-11. And then? Then it was over.

No. 2 Freeman High School will host No. 3 Irene-Wakonda Thursday night, Nov. 4 in the third and final round of the Region 5B Tournament — with a return trip to the SoDak 16 on the line. The Flyers (18-9) advanced with a 3-1 win over No. 7 Viborg-Hurley (8-20) in the second round of the region tournament in Freeman on Tuesday. Freeman won in four sets, 25-15, 25-18, 15-25, 25-15.  Irene-Wakonda (14-12) earned its spot in Thursday's third round with a 3-1 win over No. 6 Menno (9-15). The Eagles downed the Wolves 25-12, 26-24, 20-25, 25-15.

Freeman Academy/Marion's volleyball team saw it's season come to an end in the opening round of the Region 5B Tournament Monday night, falling to Centerville in straight sets 25-11, 25-18, 25-21. But this season was about far more than a final 4-25 record or the outcome of a postseason match 45 minutes away; it was about optimism, perseverance and growth. And that's what had the coaches in tears following Monday's match in Centerville. Much more about that in this week's Courier, online Wednesday and in print on Thursday.

Canistota/Freeman head coach James Strang said earlier this week that, when his defense is firing on all cylinders, it can play with anybody. The Pride proved on Thursday night just how good that defense can be.

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