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20th Century Top 50: South Dakota
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|
Rank |
Profile |
|
1 |
Billy
Mills , Pine Ridge
Won 10,000-meter track title in then Olympic-record 28:24.4 at 1964 Games; in
1965 set world record for six miles
(27:11.6). |
|
2 |
Frank
Leahy , Winner
Notre Dame football coach from 1941 to '43 and '46 to '53 had six undefeated
seasons and won five national
championships. |
|
3 |
Garney
Henley , Hayti
Was Canadian Football League All-Star nine straight years (from 1963 to '71) as
a defensive back; moved to flanker in '72 and won league MVP
award. |
|
4 |
Marlene
Hagge , Eureka
In 1950 was one of 11 charter members of the LPGA; won 25 tour events from 1952
to
'72. |
|
5 |
Casey
Tibbs , Fort Pierre
Won Rodeo Cowboys Association world title as a teen and was nine-time world
champion all-around
cowboy. |
|
6 |
Jack
Manders , Milbank
Bears' three-time All-Pro halfback scored two TDs, intercepted a pass and
recovered a fumble in loss to Redskins in 1937 title
game. |
|
7 |
Randy
Lewis , Rapid City
Won a gold medal at 136 1/2 pounds in freestyle wrestling at the 1984
Olympics. |
|
8 |
Dave
Collins , Rapid City
Sixteen-year major league outfielder excelled in 1980, batting .303 with 79
stolen bases and 94 runs for
Reds. |
|
9 |
George
Amundson , Aberdeen
In 1969 set national high school discus record with throw of 211' 4";
running back for three seasons in NFL. |
|
10 |
Earl
Sande , Groton
Was the nation's leading jockey in 1921, '23 and '27; in '30 rode Gallant
Fox to the Triple
Crown. |
|
11 |
Dick
Green , Mitchell
Four-sport star at Mitchell High played second base for world-champion A's from
1972 to
'74. |
|
12 |
Pug
Manders , Milbank
Three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference running back at Drake, scored
school-record 24 TDs; in 1941 was NFL's top rusher with Dodgers (486
yards).
|
|
13 |
Ordell
Braase , Mitchell
Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end spent 12 seasons with Colts (from 1957 to '68);
helped Baltimore win three NFL
titles. |
|
14 |
Buster
Charles , Flandreau
Won first five events of 1929 U.S. decathlon championship, then sprained ankle;
a year later was national decathlon champion. |
|
15 |
Kris
Tschetter , Sioux Falls
Four-time South Dakota women's stroke play champion as an amateur, has earned
more than $1.7 million on LPGA
tour.
|
|
16 |
Carroll
Hardy , Sturgis
Only man to pinch-hit for Ted Williams; batted .225 over eight major league
seasons; caught 12 passes for 1955
49ers. |
|
17 |
Wayne
Rasmussen , Howard
Intercepted 16 passes in nine-year career (from 1964 to '72) with Lions,
including five in '65; set seven school football records at South Dakota
State. |
|
18 |
Leonard
Lovely , Elkton
Three-time All-America guard led Creighton to two league basketball titles (1923
and
'24). |
|
19 |
John
Dutton , Rapid City
Picked fifth in 1974 NFL draft; spent 14 seasons as Colts and Cowboys defensive
lineman. |
|
20 |
Weert
Engelmann , Miller
Starred in track at South Dakota State, winning six events in two conference
championships before joining Green Bay in 1930 as a
halfback. |
|
21 |
Frank
Kelley , Tyndall
In 1925 broke world records in low and high hurdles; scored all of South
Dakota State's points (56) in conference football games in
'26. |
|
22 |
Cindy
Greiner , Wilmot
Only three-time Olympian from South Dakota; placed fourth in 1984 heptathlon,
eighth in
'88. |
|
23 |
Jim
Iverson , Platte
Four-time all-state basketball player at Platte High started for Kansas
State in 1951 NCAA championship
game. |
|
24 |
Ron
DeHaven , Huron
The 1985 NCAA Division II 1,500-meter indoor champion was top American
marathoner in 1999 at the world championships. |
|
25 |
Joe
Mendel , Onida
Led Onida High to 1926 state track title, setting state long jump and
440-yard-dash records and winning 100 and 220.
|
|
26 |
Don
Jacobsen , Lake Norden
Three-time all-conference guard (1958-59 to '60-61) set South Dakota State
basketball records for points in a season (638) and career
(1,488). |
|
27 |
Mike
Miller , Mitchell
Led Mitchell High to state basketball championship in 1996 and '97; twice named
South Dakota prep athlete of the
year. |
|
28 |
Cornie
Collin , Huron
Captain of Creighton basketball and football teams was hoops All-America in
1933. |
|
29 |
Doug
Wolfgang , Sioux Falls
Won more than 500 races and over $1 million on the World of Outlaws sprint
car
circuit. |
|
30 |
Jim
Scott , Deadwood
White Sox pitcher had 107-113 record and 2.30 ERA from 1909 to '17; worked
as NL umpire from 1930 to
'32.
|
|
31 |
Bill
Scherr , Mobridge
The 1988 Olympic bronze medalist in 220-pound freestyle wrestling was a
three-time All-America at
Nebraska. |
|
32 |
Urban
Odson , Clark
First South Dakotan to be named All-America at a major college, as tackle at
Minnesota in 1940; spent four years with Packers. |
|
33 |
Steph
Schueler , Sioux Falls
All-state in football and basketball; won 1971 Outland Trophy and was named
first-team All-America at
Nebraska. |
|
34 |
Larry
Jacobson , Sioux Falls
All-state in football and basketball; won 1971 Outland Trophy and was named
first-team All-America at
Nebraska. |
|
35 |
Bob
Stransky , Yankton
Earned All-America honors as Colorado tailback in 1957, placing second in
nation in rushing (1,097 yards) and fourth in total offense
(1,387). |
|
36 |
Tom
Byrum , Onida
In 15 years on PGA Tour has earned more than $2.3 million; won 1989 Kemper
Open.
|
|
37 |
Fred
Hecker , Sioux Falls
Versatile star led Washington High to two state basketball titles, three track
titles and one golf title from 1953 to
'57. |
|
38 |
Jim
Scherr , Mobridge
Placed fifth in 1988 Olympics in 198-pound freestyle wrestling; won silver medal
at '87 and '89 world
championships. |
|
39 |
Eric
Piatkowski , Rapid City
Clippers swingman was South Dakota's 1989 Mr. Basketball, averaging 25.6 points
and 10.3 rebounds at Stevens
High. |
|
40 |
Dave
Gassman , Canova
Has starred in amateur baseball for last 34 years; holds state records for
wins (382) and strikeouts
(5,474). |
|
41 |
John
Simko , Sioux Falls
Only South Dakotan to win four state high school singles tennis titles (from
1954 to '57); two-time All-America on offensive line at Augustana
College.
|
|
42 |
Dennis
Koslowski , Doland
Greco-Roman wrestler, at 220 pounds, won silver medal at 1992 Olympics and
bronze in
'88.
|
|
43 |
Curt
Byrum , Onida
Five-time South Dakota amateur champion (and brother of Tom) has won more
than $1.7 million in 17 years on the PGA
Tour.
|
|
44 |
Jeremy
Sonnenfeld , Sioux Falls
On Feb. 2, 1997, bowled the first officially recognized 900 series in
history. |
|
45 |
Becky
Hammon , Rapid City
Three-time WAC player of the year at Colorado State before joining WNBA; was
first South Dakota woman to play pro basketball in the
U.S.
|
|
46 |
Becky
Flynn , Wakonda
State's alltime leading scorer in girls' basketball (3,268 points) led Wakonda
High to 101 straight wins and three state
titles. |
|
47 |
Lincoln
McIlravy , Philip
No. 1-ranked 152-pound freestyle wrestler in the U.S.; won three NCAA titles
at Iowa (1993, '94,
'97).
|
|
48 |
Fred
Gushurst , Lead
Right end for unbeaten 1912 and '13 Notre Dame football teams; named All-America
in
'13. |
|
49 |
Kirk
Wallman , Freeman
Went 201-0 in six years of varsity wrestling for Freeman High; only South
Dakotan to win six state wrestling
titles.
|
|
50 |
Neil
Graff , Sioux Falls
All-Big Ten QB for Wisconsin led conference in passing and total offense as a
junior in 1970; spent six years in
NFL. |
