Sports - Spring 2003 Issue

Cross country places second at national meet

The BHSU men’s and women’s cross country teams ran away with an impressive second place finish in the national meet this fall.

The Black Hills State University men’s and women’s cross country teams finished second in the nation in combined team points at the NAIA national meet in Kenosha, Wis, this fall.

The women’s cross country team upheld its ranking finishing third in the nation while the men’s team exceeded the national ranking expectation when they captured fifth place. The combined team points earned a runner-up championship title for the teams.

Team members, junior Dennis Newell and senior Jessie Palczewski, ran exceptional races finishing second and third respectively in their divisions. Newell’s race put him in the Yellow Jacket record books for the best finish at nationals for a BHSU runner. Newell and Palczewski, joined by Nikki Underwood and Tim Bishop, were granted All-American status. Bishop also received 2002 NAIA Academic All-Scholar honors. Underwood finished with a strong eighth place after running in the top five for much of the day while Bishop ran a strong second half to finish 15th overall.

The BHSU teams included nine runners who had never before competed in the national meet. Six of the nine were freshmen. Jamie Hahn broke the school’s record for the highest freshman finish in the women’s division when she finished 55th. Freshmen runners Luke Watkins and Scott Dannenbring finished 68th and 88th respectively while junior Gregg Starr completed the race in 70th place.

Head coach Scott Walkinshaw expressed his pride in the teams’ accomplishments throughout the season and especially at the national meet. He stressed that cross country is a team sport and team effort won these awards. 

Synhorst takes over athletic director duties - TOP OF PAGE

Bud Synhorst (left), who is now the athletic director at BHSU, and several former athletic directors attended the annual Gold Dust Yellow Jacket Golf Classic fund raiser. Also attending were Dave Little (second from the left), who retired this summer, Bill Jordan (second from the right), Cliff Papik and Gene Schlekeway (not pictured).

Robert "Bud" Synhorst, development officer in the athletics department at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, has been named athletic director at BHSU.
Synhorst, 30, comes to BHSU with a wealth of experience in intercollegiate athletics management, planning, coaching and fund raising. 

"Bud is bringing with him significant experience from a premier division one institution," BHSU President Thomas Flickema said. "He has the energy and the vision to be a successful athletic director." 

At the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Synhorst managed a $10 million annual-giving program for athletics. He most recently played an instrumental role in the strategic planning and solicitation for the new $32.1 million baseball/softball complex there. Synhorst points to his role in the formation of the Husker Athletics Fund as a prime example of his ability to effectively manage a group of individuals to achieve a common goal. 

Previously, Synhorst served as general manager of the Diamond Sports Center in Lincoln where he was responsible for the complete operation of an indoor baseball/softball conditioning facility. 

The new athletic director said he looks forward to working with the coaches to "put the best teams possible on the field and to have the best student athletes represent the university on the field, in the classroom and in the community." 

Synhorst earned a bachelor of arts degree in business education from the University of Nebraska-Kearney in 1995. While at Kearney he served as assistant baseball coach and academic supervisor for student athletes.

Alumni return for Round Ball Reunion - TOP OF PAGE

The BHSU varsity basketball teams defeated the alumni teams at the Round Ball Reunion this fall.

The alumni women's team lost 82-48 to the varsity Lady Yellow Jackets. Kim (Rochlitz) Niemann, who received an award for traveling the farthest to attend the reunion, made the trip worth her while as she was also named most valuable player. Niemann is from Omaha, Neb.

In the men's contest the varsity won with a final score of 88-72. Jeremy Carter was named the most valuable player for the alumni men. John Karinen, from Juneau, Alaska, was presented with the men's award for traveling the farthest. 

Members of the men's BHSU alumni team were front row, left to right, head coach John Heck, Nate Vogel, Kris LeDuc, Matt Burgess, Eldon Marshal, John Karinen and Mark Nore. Middle row, left to right, Dan Hodgs, Brant Miller, Tory Schwartz, Brian Sudrala, Frosty Horton, Jeremy Carter and Wade Wilkinson. Back row, left to right, John Wilkinson, Mark Gould, Roger Bell, Aaron Manning, Gene Wagner and Jeff Stevens. Not pictured Morris Zempel, Scott Graslie and Jerry Junek.

Members of the women's BHSU alumni team were front row, left to right, Dawn (Batterman) Curl, Tracy (Winjum) Meyers, Cindy (Winjum) Riss, Sara (Wells) Klein and Phyllis Parkhurst. Middle row, Jody (Wherley) VerHey, Kim (Rochlitz) Niemann, Diede (Rossow) Baldwin, Annie Rossow and Coleen (Herber) Letellier. Back row, head coach Kelly Crotty, Tobiann (VanderPol) Andrews, Steph Anderson, Melissa Braegger, Beth (Nelson) Bentley and Kerry Bell. Not pictured Cori (Ringwood) Engelhardt.

Basketball teams begin seasons with national rankings - TOP OF PAGE

Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams began the 2002-2003 season with high national rankings. 

The men’s team is currently ranked sixth in the nation and has a 11-3 record. The women’s team, which has struggled, currently has a 5-8 record. The teams both face a tough conference schedule this semester. To see photographs from the games and check scores see the web page at <www.bhsu.edu> and choose Athletics.