Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Commissioner Corey Westra has been named the 2025-26 NAIA Commissioner of the Year, an honor voted on by members of the NAIA Conference Commissioners Association.
Westra has served as commissioner of the GPAC for the past 23 years, making him the longest-tenured conference commissioner in the NAIA. Throughout his tenure, he has guided the conference through significant periods of growth while helping establish the GPAC as one of the premier athletic conferences in the NAIA.
Under Westra’s leadership, the GPAC has continued to thrive both competitively and organizationally. The conference has experienced sustained success on the national stage while strengthening its partnerships, enhancing its brand, and expanding opportunities for its member institutions and student-athletes.
Yankton Post 12 took the opening game of their best-of-three series against Aberdeen last night, winning 10-0 in five innings.
Beck Ryken threw the complete-game shutout on the mound, striking out four batters. Easton Feser recorded three hits and three RBIs at the plate.
Yankton will play Aberdeen again at noon today. If they win, they earn a spot in next week’s state tournament. If Aberdeen wins, the two teams will meet in a winner-take-all game three immediately following.
Coverage on KYNT and KYNTV with Brayden Butler and Josh Boelter begins at 11:30 AM.
University of South Dakota Football players Charles Pierre Jr. and Chris Dixon named Second Team Preseason All-Americans by FCS Football Central.
Pierre was named an All-American in 2024, becoming the first USD running back to eclipse 1,000 yards in a single season at the Division I level. He looks to bounce back after he missed most of last season due to an injury.
Starting all 15 games last season, Dixon sat seventh on the team with his 69 tackles, along with four tackles for loss. He also led the defensive line unit with four pass break-ups and three quarterback hurries
Five athletes who have competed or coached at the University of South Dakota are set to compete at the United States Track & Field Championships this week at Icahn Stadium in New York, New York.
Current Yote vaulter and three-time first-team All-American Anna Willis is set for her first USATF Championships, joining USD Alum Emily Grove in the women’s pole vault. Chris Nilsen, one of USD’s two Division I National Champions and 2020 Olympic Silver medalist, will compete in the men’s pole vault.
The lone USD alum competing on the track is Sara Reifenrath in the women’s 400-meters. The 23-time Summit League champion as a Yote placed 19th at the USATF Championships in the 400 last summer in Eugene. Also competing is USD Assistant Coach Maggie Ewen in the women’s shot put.
The District 6B Amateur Baseball Tournament begins tonight in Menno, with #4 Lesterville taking on #5 Freeman.
Lesterville and Freeman both finished with a 6-8 record in the South Central League this season, with the two teams splitting their regular season series. Lesterville won game one 14-8, and Freeman won game two 13-8.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 PM tonight, with the winner advancing to take on #1-seeded Tabor in the next round.
District 6B Amateur Baseball Tournament (Round One):
- #4 Lesterville vs #5 Freeman – 7:30 PM Thursday.
- #3 Menno vs #6 Crofton – 6:00 PM Friday.
- #2 Wynot vs #7 Irene – 8:00 PM Friday.
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