MITCHELL – With just a few days left until the new South Dakota high school football season, the Mitchell area is once again teeming with football talent.
From Winner to Canistota and many stops in between, those skills will soon be on full display as teams across the state begin another march toward the DakotaDome. Play begins this week for Class 11B and Class 9s, with Classes 11AAA, 11AA and 11A following next week.
As teams prepare to take the field for the first time in 2024, here’s a look at 15 of the best playmakers set to make waves this fall, listed alphabetically by last name:
Waylon Bolle, jr., RB/LB, Corsica-Stickney: Although individual stats from 2023 were not available, a freshman season with more than 1,500 yards and 22 touchdowns on offense and 55 tackles (7.5 for loss) on defense is enough to prove Bolle’s ability as a two-way playmaker. To keep defenses guessing, Corsica-Stickney also has the advantage of having Bolle in the lineup alongside fellow veteran playmaker Tate Tolsma, who appears later on this list.
Parker Denne, sr., RB/LB, Mitchell: Denne is one of only two returning offensive starters for the Kernels and will once again be used as a key contributor for the Black and Gold. Denne amassed more than 1,000 all-purpose yards with eight touchdowns in 2023 and was Mitchell’s No. 2 runner and receiver at the end of the season. Denne is a two-way starter and is also the Kernels’ third-best returning tackler from last season.
Landon Dierks/Mitchell Republic
Shawn Hammerbeck, sr., TE/DE, winner: A 6-foot-4, 250-pound player on the line of scrimmage, Hammerbeck was the team’s best player with 36 tackles and led the Warriors in sacks, earning him Class 11B All-State selection last season. After an all-state performance on the basketball court during the winter sports season and a state championship in the discus this spring, Hammerbeck verbally committed in July to attend the University of Nebraska, where he will play on the offensive or defensive line. Dakota News Now reported Monday that Hammerbeck will miss the Warriors’ first few games due to a ruptured appendix.
Holden Havlik, sr., QB/LB, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central: Havlik, who was an honorable mention all-state pick last season, had nearly 2,300 total yards and 26 touchdowns for the Blackhawks. Entering his senior season, the 6-foot-3, 215-pound signal-caller has nearly 5,000 total yards with 54 touchdowns in his prep career that began at Kimball/White Lake. As a bonus, Havlik and the Blackhawks return senior lineman Caleb Kneen, who was named an all-state selection in 2023 for his performances on the defensive side of the ball, as well as all-state receiver Ryder Michalek, who was added to that list later.
Weston Kayser, sr., RB/DB, Hanson: Kayser earned honorable mention in Class 9AA last season, primarily for his work on the Beavers’ special teams. As a kick and punt returner, Kayser posted more than 500 return yards and four touchdowns. On offense, he will likely share the backfield this season with Sutton Dewald, who was in the conversation for an all-state defensive back spot last year, to form a formidable two-headed rushing attack.
Gannon Knebel, Jr., QB/LB, Wagner: Knebel played a key role in the Red Raiders’ four-win improvement from 2022 to 2023. The 6’1″, 200-pound Knebel was nominated for an All-State spot last season and brings a ton of experience back to Wagner’s team. Knebel and Co. also benefit from the return of senior lineman Parker Petry, who was nominated for an All-State spot last season and paves the way forward at 6’2″, 230 pounds.
Adam Thury/Mitchell Republic
Luke Koepsell, sr., TE/DE, Howard: After a junior season in which he was named a Class 9AA all-state selection, Koepsell is set to be the returning starter from the last state runner-up team. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound end was a two-way threat and was selected as an all-state pick on defense, where he recorded 75 tackles and nine sacks. On offense, he added 18 catches for 409 yards and nine scores. In his career, Koepsell has accumulated 155 tackles and 15 sacks through his final season.
Kolter Kramer, sr., RB/DB, Parkston: Kramer is the best returner from a championship-winning backfield and will likely be the primary back in a revamped Parkston offense in 2024. Last season, Kramer battled injuries but posted more than 600 yards and eight touchdowns on offense and 22 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery on defense. Kramer is 5’10” and 195 pounds. He possesses a good mix of power and speed and has been a regular contributor in the backfield since his freshman year.
Elliott Leischner, sr., OL/DL, Parkston: Simply put, there aren’t many linemen in South Dakota, regardless of class, who can match Leischner’s physical stature. At 6-foot-8 and 260 pounds, Leischner is a key member of the Trojans’ offensive line, paving the way for nearly 4,000 yards of offense – nearly 3,500 of those on the ground – and 62 touchdowns. Leischner will block alongside several new faces on the Parkston line this season, making room for key contributors like Kramer, Carter Sommer and Kaden Holzbauer.
Aziah Meyer, sr., RB/LB, Avon: There aren’t many running backs who look like Meyer, either. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound runner managed 1,846 rushing yards and 37 touchdowns during Avon’s title-winning 2023 season. Meyer’s breakout season included winning the Joe Robbie MVP and Most Outstanding Running Back awards in the Class 9B championship game, and there’s little doubt that the No. 1 pick in red and black is a big reason the Pirates enter 2024 as favorites to repeat. And there’s more from the Avon backfield further down this list.
Ryder Michalek, sr., WR/DB, Woonsocket/Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central: With 49 catches for 816 yards and six touchdowns for the Blackhawks last season, Michalek landed on the Class 11B All-State team. The 6-foot-3 player enters his career season with 100 catches for 1,595 yards and 14 touchdowns and is ready to do even more with Holden Havlik as his ball distributor.
Landon Mudder, sr., FB/LB, Avon: Mudder was an unsung hero of Avon’s devastating running attack last season. He was the Class 9B all-state fullback who posted 342 yards on the ground and many more rushing yards. Combined with players like juniors Randall Powers (6-2, 285 pounds) and Al Gunter (6-6, 220) on the offensive line, the Pirates should be able to gain plenty of yards on offense and limit such opportunities on defense.
Adam Thury/Mitchell Republic
Iden Myers, sr., RB/LB, Kimball/White Lake: After a stellar offensive season in 2022, Myers established himself as a two-way playmaker last season and was named a Class 9AA All-State selection as a defensive back. Myers collected 88 tackles, one sack, a school-record 10 interceptions and one fumble recovery on defense, while increasing his offensive production to over 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns for the Wildkats.
Brady Scott, Sr., QB/S, Canistota: Scott, who earned Class 9A all-state honors last season, had 43 tackles and two interceptions for the Hawks. Although he’s primarily a receiver on offense, where he totaled more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns last season, Scott is listed on the roster as a quarterback this year. If he is indeed the Hawks’ new playmaker, he can lean on senior lineman Jaden Kleinsasser up front, who was nominated for an all-state spot last season.
Landon Dierks/Mitchell Republic
Tate Tolsma, sr., RB/LB, Corsica-Stickney: After a season in which he was named to the All-State team on defense, Tolsma will expand his duties as a two-way playmaker for the Jaguars this season. Last season, Tolsma totaled 97 tackles, including six for loss, along with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. This year, he will likely take on a larger offensive role alongside Waylon Bolle in the backfield.
Riley Tschetter, Jr., QB/DB, Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy: Although Tschetter was injured in Week 3 last season and missed the rest of the year, he will look to build on the form of his stellar first season in 2022. Two seasons ago, the first as an FMFA program, Tschetter accounted for more than 2,500 yards and 33 touchdowns for the Phoenix, including 2,225 yards and 30 scores through the air. And that’s not even mentioning the many returning playmakers Tschetter can pass the ball to, including Karter Weber and Dominic Sperling.
Marcus Traxler/Mitchell Republic
Eli Vobr, sr., QB/DB, winner: Vobr is a freshman in the Warriors’ football program after previously playing at Colome. He is coming off a standout season that earned him a nine-man all-state team nomination. Last season with the Cowboys, Vobr posted more than 1,300 yards from scrimmage and 16 touchdowns. Notably, former Colome standout fullback/linebacker Seth Heath, a junior, also joined the Winner football program this season.
Jason Zeeb, sr., OL/DL, Bridgewater-Emery/Ethan: An honorable mention All-State and Big East All-Conference selection, Zeeb is a key player for the Seahawks on both sides of the football. Zeeb, who stands 6’1″ and 200 pounds, led BEE in 2023 with 55 tackles, added five sacks and three fumble recoveries and was the first choice to run behind on offense. Entering his final season, Zeeb has 95 tackles and seven sacks in his prep career.
