It’s been almost three years since the Freeman Academy/Marion volleyball team has won a match, the last time being in the first round of the Region 5B Volleyball Tournament on Oct. 29, 2018. The Bearcats went 0-14 the following season and finished the 2020 campaign 0-27. Kenneth and Haley Schroeder, the husband-wife duo now taking on the task of leading the 2021 volleyball team, know this. They know that with a young team they’ve got their work cut out for them. They also know they’re excited to help turn things around.

BY JEREMY WALTNER Who the heck are the Jim River Trappers? That’s a question that will likely be asked this fall by those not familiar with one of South Dakota’s newest football cooperatives — a partnership established in January between neighboring towns Menno and Scotland. Head Coach Ryan Robb has a response to that question, and it’s one that Menno Superintendent and assistant coach Tom Rice loves.

BY JEREMY WALTNER The Canistota/Freeman football team won’t have to wait long for its first test of the season. In fact, it’s coming right away courtesy of Platte-Geddes, the defending Class 9AA state champion that will host the three-time defending 9A champion Pride Friday night, Aug. 20 in the 2021 football opener. The Black Panthers are ranked No. 1 in the preseason South Dakota Media Football Poll; the Pride are No. 2.

Bob Pidde is finally getting his chance at recognition as the newest inductee into South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. The former Freeman standout who went on to play at South Dakota State University was originally to be inducted into the hall of fame in 2020, but the ceremony was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

JEREMY WALTNER - PUBLISHER A number of baseball players had outstanding weekends at the 2021 VFW 14U State Baseball Tournament in Freeman July 23, 24, 25, but none were better than Mt. Vernon/Plankinton’s Taite Klumb. Not only did the 15-year-old from Ethan belt a home run over the left field fence each day, he didn’t record a single out, batting 1.000 for the tournament.

CANISTOTA/FREEMAN 14U STATE TOURNAMENT PICTURES HERE!

The Canistota/Freeman Sticks didn’t just host the 2021 Class B VFW State 14U Baseball Tournament last weekend. They won it.

Canistota/Freeman’s 14U Teener team used an 11-run fifth inning to seize the momentum and win the biggest game in Sticks program history, claiming the 2021 Class B VFW state championship Sunday night, July 24 in Freeman.