Thirty-four runners from three area schools — 20 from Freeman Academy and Freeman Public and 14 from Menno — have embarked on the 2023 cross-country season. While practices have been taking place for a number of weeks, competition began last Friday, Aug. 25 with the Beresford Invitational and continued with Freeman Academy/Marion and Freeman Public running at the McCook Central/Montrose Invitational on Tuesday.

The Freeman High School volleyball team bounced back from a 1-2 showing at last week’s Hanson Early Bird Tournament with a straight-set win over Corsica-Stickney in its home-opener Monday night, Aug. 28. The Flyers beat the Jaguars 25-15, 25-11, 25-19 to improve to 2-2 while Corsica-Stickney dropped to 0-5. Senior Zenovia Butler had a big match for Freeman, tallying 11 kills, 9 digs and a block.

Competing against nearly 100 runners from schools of all sizes, Freeman Academy/Marion senior Tavin Schroeder finished eighth at the Beresford Early Bird Invitational last week, as cross-country teams from around the state opened their 2023 fall season.

Senior Liam Ortman scored a match-tying goal in the second half and goalkeeper Blake Rumelhart made a game-saving stop on a penalty kick with 3 minutes to play as Freeman Academy played Dakota Valley to a 1-1 tie at Dakota Valley (N. Sioux City) on Saturday.

The Phoenix offense scored seven touchdowns in the first half and their defense allowed just one first down as Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy rolled to a 50-0 win over Iroquois/Lake Preston in Lake Preston Friday night, Aug. 25. The game ended at halftime because of the mercy rule and moved the Phoenix to 2-0 on the season. The Sharks dropped to 0-2.

Playing for third place at the Hanson Early Bird Invitational Thursday night, Aug. 24, the Freeman High School volleyball team lost to Avon 2 sets to 1, finishing the tournament — and starting the season — 1-2. Avon beat the Flyers 19-25, 25-15, 25-13.

Playing for third place at the Hanson Early Bird Invitational Thursday night, Aug. 24, the Freeman High School volleyball team lost to Avon 2 sets to 1, finishing the tournament — and starting the season — 1-2. Avon beat the Flyers 19-25, 25-15, 25-13.

Ashton Massey had 19 kills and 5 blocks, Ellyana Ulmer had 40 digs and Joslynn Fischer had 28 set assists and 4 aces to lead Menno past Centerville at Centerville in volleyball action Thursday night, Aug. 24. The Wolves came back from a 2 sets-to-1 deficit to win in five. Set scores were 21-25, 25-11, 22-25, 25-17, 15-7. In addition to Massey's strong play at the net, Menno saw 8 kills from Ulmer and Fischer each while Maggie Miller had 36 digs. Ulmer and McNinch both had a pair of blocks and Ulmer, Miller and Taylor Freier each had 2 aces.

Ashton Massey had 19 kills and 5 blocks, Ellyana Ulmer had 40 digs and Joslynn Fischer had 28 set assists and 4 aces to lead Menno past Centerville at Centerville in volleyball action Thursday night, Aug. 24. The Wolves came back from a 2 sets-to-1 deficit to win in five. Set scores were 21-25, 25-11, 22-25, 25-17, 15-7. In addition to Massey's strong play at the net, Menno saw 8 kills from Ulmer and Fischer each while Maggie Miller had 36 digs. Ulmer and McNinch both had a pair of blocks and Ulmer, Miller and Taylor Freier each had 2 aces.