THURSDAY SPORTS, OCTOBER 16, 2025
MITCHELL KERNELS
— Mitchell Kernels volleyball, 12-4 on the season, will be at No. 4 Watertown on Thursday at 6:30 pm. The Kernels have won six straight matches, their longest winning streak since 2017.
— Mitchell Christian boys cross county won the Region 3B meet at the Burke Golf Course on Wednesday behind a first-place finish from Silas Holdeman. Holdeman clocked in at 16 minutes, 30 seconds. The Golden Eagles took the top three spots with Luke Mentele finishing second in 16:43 and Sawyer Holdeman placing third in 17:15. The top 20 finishers qualified for the state meet.
— Kimball/White Lake won the girls team title, claiming the top three individual spots as Autumn Baker placed first with a time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds, with Alli McCord in second and Lily Baker in third. The Mitchell Christian girls finished second as Laura Nemec finished fifth in 20 minutes, 48 seconds. Seventh grader Emrie VonEye from Sanborn Central/Woonsocket finished fourth overall with a time of 20 minutes, 44 seconds to qualify for state.
DAKOTA WESLEYAN
— Dakota Wesleyan’s Allison Meyerink has been named the GPAC’s Women’s Golfer of the Week for the third time this season following a tournament win at the Mustang Derby this past week in Sioux City. Meyerink finished the tournament at +6 after shooting an even-par 72 during her second round. DWU women’s golf wrapped up their fall season is past week.
— Dakota Wesleyan volleyball won its fourth match in a row with a 3-1 (13-25, 25-20, 25-19, 25-21) victory over Morningside on Wednesday night. Lily Ranschau led the Tigers with 16 kills on the night, while Evy Knoblock added 13 kills. Kayleigh Hybertson added 38 assists, while Lizzie Tyler had 35 digs. DWU remains tied with Dordt in fourth place in the GPAC with a 7-4 record. The Tigers host No. 4 Concordia on Saturday at 3 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan men’s soccer won its third match in a row with a 6-1 win on Wednesday at Waldorf behind three goals from Luis Waeschle. The Tigers improved to 5-1-1 on the season in the GPAC to remain tied with Midland for second place. DWU hosts Concordia on Saturday at 4 pm.
— Dakota Wesleyan women’s soccer scored a season-high in goals in a 7-1 win on Wednesday at Waldorf. The Tigers move to 3-1-3 on the season in the GPAC.
— Dakota Wesleyan football is on a bye this week before hosting Waldorf for homecoming on Saturday, October 25th at 2 pm. DWU hosts Concordia on Saturday at 6 pm.
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
— South Dakota State volleyball, 11-3 on the season and 5-0 in the Summit League, host North Dakota State on Thursday at 7 pm.
— South Dakota State women’s soccer, 9-2-4 on the season, will be at USD on Saturday at 3 pm.
— South Dakota State football will be at Murray State on Saturday at 6 pm. The Jackrabbit pregame starts at 4 pm on KORN. SDSU improved to 6-0 on the season with a 31-3 win this past Saturday vs. Northern Iowa on Hobo Day.
SOUTH DAKOTA
— For the third time this season, a South Dakota Coyote has been named a Missouri Valley Football Conference Player of the Week honor. Senior kicker Will Leyland was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. Leyland connected on all four field goals in the 19-14 victory at Indiana State on Saturday. The four made field goals tied the USD single-game record. His longest field goal of the day was 42 yards.
— USD volleyball will be at Kansas City on Wednesday at 7 pm.
— USD football will be at Northern Iowa on Saturday at 1 pm.
— USD women’s soccer hosts SDSU on Saturday at 3 pm.
MLB PLAYOFFS – THURSDAY
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers, 5 pm on TBD – L.A. leads the series 2-0
Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays, 7:30 pm on FS1 –Seattle leads the series 2-1
MLB
— Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer woke up Toronto’s offense as the Blue Jays hit five home runs to rebound from an early deficit, routing the Seattle Mariners 13-4. Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez hit a two-run, first-inning homer off Shane Bieber to put the Mariners ahead, but Toronto’s Andrés Giménez sparked the comeback with a tying, two-run homer in a five-run third against. Springer, Guerrero, Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger went deep as the Blue Jays had 18 hits after having just eight hits in the first two games of the series.
— The Baltimore Orioles have expressed interest in future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols. The Orioles have yet to formally interview Pujols, but are expected to as they seek a replacement for Brandon Hyde, who was fired early in 2025 season. The Los Angeles Angels still appear to be the most likely destination for Pujols and remain the only team he has formally interviewed with.
NBA
— The NBA has reminded teams to focus on addressing inappropriate fan behavior at games this season. In a memo sent to all 30 teams, the league emphasizes the need for consistent enforcement of the NBA Fan Code of Conduct. This move comes after several incidents last season, including ejections of fans in Dallas and Minnesota for misconduct. The NBA season opens Tuesday with Houston at Oklahoma City and Golden State visiting the Los Angeles Lakers.
— Former MVP Russell Westbrook is joining the Sacramento Kings. The 36-year-old Westbrook is entering his 18th NBA season. He holds the record for the most career triple-doubles and ranks 20th all-time in points scored and eighth all-time in assists. Westbrook played for Denver last season, averaging 13 points, six assists and nearly five rebounds per game.
— Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray has agreed to a five-year, $140 million rookie contract extension. Murray, the No. 4 pick in the 2022 NBA draft, secures a long-term extension to remain in Sacramento through 2031. The 25-year-old Murray averaged 12 points and 6.7 rebounds in 34 minutes per game last season.
— New York Knicks guard Malcolm Brogdon has decided to retire from basketball after nine NBA seasons. Brogdon, who averaged 12 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds in a career-low 24 games for the Washington Wizards last season, was on track to make the Knicks’ final roster, but he had been contemplating retirement and informed team officials Wednesday of his decision. The No. 36 pick in the 2016 draft, Brogdon was the NBA Rookie of the Year with Milwaukee in 2017 and the Sixth Man of the Year with Boston in 2023.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
— The Big 12 has fined Kansas $25,000 for head football coach Lance Leipold’s statement that a pocketknife was thrown at his staff during the Jayhawks’ game at Texas Tech last weekend. The conference said Wednesday the allegation was inaccurate and Leipold’s comments were “disparaging.” Speaking about Tech fans’ tradition of throwing tortillas onto the field, Leipold said a pocketknife was also thrown in the third quarter of the game. Leipold apologized for what he called “an emotional reaction” and thanked the conference for reviewing the allegation.
— Alabama’s Ty Simpson edged out Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza for first-team quarterback on The Associated Press midseason All-America team. Ohio State and Texas A&M lead with three players each on the first team. Nine players from the Big Ten and seven from the SEC are on the first team. Simpson has completed 76% of his passes for 285 yards per game, 14 touchdowns, and one interception since Alabama’s season-opening loss to Florida State. Mendoza has led unbeaten Indiana to its highest ranking at No. 3.
NFL
— The one-game suspension of Detroit Lions safety Brian Branch was upheld upon appeal Wednesday. The NFL on Monday suspended Branch for one game without pay for unsportsmanlike conduct after he hit Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and set off a brief fight Sunday night.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL – THURSDAY
Parker/Marion vs. Parkston (21-5, 7th in Class B Seed Points)
Gayville-Volin vs. Bridgewater-Emery (18-2, 10th in Class B Seed Points)
West Central vs. Mt. Vernon/Plankinton
Sanborn Central/Woonsocket vs. Kimball/White Lake
Bon Homme vs. Hanson
Corsica-Stickney vs. Winner
Wessington Springs vs. Wolsey-Wessington
Chamberlain vs. Platte-Geddes
Wagner vs. Andes Central/Dakota Christian
Tripp-Delmont/Armour vs. Scotland
Freeman vs. Sioux Falls Lutheran
Centerville vs. Avon
No. 1 Harrisburg vs. Aberdeen Central
SF Jefferson vs. Huron
Yankton vs. Pierre
GIRLS STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP – RAPID CITY on SATURDAY, (CST)
No. 1 Dakota Valley vs. No. 2 Sioux Falls Christian – 1 pm, Class A
No. 2 Harrisburg vs. No. 4 O’Gorman – 6 pm, Class AA
BOYS STATE SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP – RAPID CITY on SATURDAY, (CST)
No. 1 James Valley Christian vs. No. 3 Freeman Academy – 11 am, Class A
No. 1 Sioux Falls Lincoln vs. No. 2 Sioux Falls Jefferson – 4 pm, Class AA
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL – WEEK 8
Class 11AAA
1. Brandon Valley at 4. Harrisburg
2. SF Lincoln vs. Aberdeen Central
3. SF Jefferson vs. Rapid City Central
5. O’Gorman at Rapid City Stevens
SF Washington vs. SF Roosevelt – Thursday
Class 11AA
1. Huron at Mitchell – KORN News Radio
2. Yankton vs. 5. Tea Area
3. Pierre at 4. Spearfish
Watertown vs. Sturgis
Brookings vs. Douglas
Class 11A
1. SF Christian vs. 2. Dell Rapids
3. West Central vs. Milbank
4. Lennox at Tri-Valley
5. Madison vs. Canton
Class 11B
1. Elk Point-Jefferson vs. Sioux Valley
2. St. Thomas More vs. Lead-Deadwood
3. Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central vs. Mt. Vernon/Plankinton
4. Clark/Willow Lake vs. Webster Area
5. Wagner vs. Miller/Highmore-Harrold
Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan vs. Parker
Hanson at Canistota – Q107.3
Winner vs. Chamberlain
Class 9AA
1. Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy vs. No. 1B Avon
2. Hamlin vs. 3. Elkton-Lake Benton
4. Parkston vs. Gregory
5. Hill City – BYE
Kimball/White Lake at Wolsey-Wessington
Tripp-Delmont/Armour/Andes Central/Dakota Christian at Gayville-Volin
Class 9A
1. Wall at Lyman
2. Warner at Leola/Frederick Area
3. Howard vs. Viborg-Hurley
4. Alcester-Hudson vs. Scotland/Menno
5. Ipswich at North Central
Platte-Geddes vs. Corsica-Stickney
Class 9B
1. Avon at No 1AA. Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy
2. Dell Rapids St. Mary’s vs. Sioux Falls Lutheran
3. Herreid/Selby Area – BYE
4. Sully Buttes vs. Sunshine Bible
5. Faulkton Area at Northwestern