Black Hills State begins defense of its conference crown

By Journal staff | Monday, April 02, 2007

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Defending champion Black Hills State and Dickinson State are tabbed favorites to claim the team title at the 2007 Dakota Athletic Conference women's outdoor championship.

Seven conference individual champions in 10 events return for the 2007 season, including multiple event winners Wesleigh Jastorff (800, 1,500) and Amber Broderson (shot put, discus) from Black Hills State and Shannon Hellman (200, 100 hurdles) from South Dakota Mines. Other DAC winners back to defend are Dakota State's Nikki Duffy (100) and Laura Tewes (high jump) and Jamestown's Liz McCarty (long jump).

Here is a look at the DAC women's teams:

Black Hills State

Coach: Scott Walkinshaw, ninth year.

Assistant coaches: Trent Mack, Joe Stephens, Christian Nsiah, Terry Long, Callie Ackerman.

Last season's record: Fifth in NAIA.

Season's outlook: "We hope to continue the success garnered from the indoor season," Walkinshaw said. "We are fairly balanced, but have a little more strength in the throws and middle distance/distance events."

Returning letterwinners: Alicia Verhulst (distance), Amber Brodersen (throws), Jaime Adams (distance), Kelley Aline (middle distance), Kendra Karst (middle distance), Kerry Washburn (distance), Lacey Haughlan (javelin, jumps), Liz Woodruff (middle distance), Shelli Scheffler (hurdles), Victora Cross (hurdles), Wesleigh Jastorff (middle distance).

Promising prospects: Aubrey Baxter (throws, transfer from Moorpark C.C.), Lynnae Fox (throws, transfer from Wyoming), Kristen Mohror (distance).

Conference favorite: Dickinson State, said Walkinshaw.

South Dakota Mines

Coach: Jerry Schafer, 21st year.

Season's outlook: "We expect to be much improved," Schafer said. "We have seven athletes on this year's team and they have the potential to be very successful."

Returning letterwinners: senior Beth Hansen (high jump); sophomore Shannon Hellman (hurdles, 200).

Promising prospects: freshmen Katrina Donovan (throws), Ashley Stewart (high jump, throws), Jenny Strong (jumps), Samantha Diede (distance), Molly Tobin (distance).

Conference favorite: Black Hills, Jamestown and Dickinson, said Schafer.

Dickinson State

Coach: Pete Stanton.

Season's outlook: "We have several returners and should be in the top half of the conference," said Stanton.

Returning letterwinners: seniors Ashley Collen (100), Kodi Klatt (800), Kristan Wolf (1,500); juniors Valdeana Bain (triple jump), Astra Curry (100 hurdles); sophomores Rachel Clark (200), Sara Ewonick (100), Christan Hoflan (shot put).

Conference favorite: Black Hills and Jamestown, said Stanton.

Minot State

Coach: Stu Melby, third year.

Assistant coaches: Willy Soderholm, LeeAnn Pekovitch, Mark Waldera, Mark Aide, Ryan Gatch.

Top returning letterwinners: Genevive Binsfeld (distance), Laurelle Irvin (steeplechase), Sam Rogers, Julia Williams (javelin).

Promising prospects: Phoebe Garcia (distance), Johanna Jellie (high jump), Whitney Loftesnes (javelin), MacKenzie Mack (throws), Fern Parker (sprints), Whitney Thomas (sprints), Amanda Towle (middle distance), Amanda Warnett (sprints).

Letterwinners missing: Jenny Castro (red-shirting).

Jamestown College

Coach: Jim Clark.

Assistant coaches: Kathryn Lemm, Russ Schmeichel, Walter Eldridge.

Returning letterwinners: Kellee Black (javelin), RaeDeen Blum (throws), Alicia Blum (javelin, sprints), Nicole Cuppy (high jump), Amber DeBoer (throws), Cassie Dellwo (throws), Erin Ellmaker (distance), Sonja Hayes (sprints, throws), Chrisy Lussenden (sprints, jumps), Kelsey Matthews (javelin, shot put), Liz McCarty (sprints, jumps), Kelsey Moore (middle distance), Katie Piata (shot put, discus, javelin), Rebecca Rost (javelin), Brena Smith (throws), Giuli Varriano (sprints, hurdles), Laura White (throws), Allyssa Wutzke (distance).

Promising prospects: Ashleigh Anderson (distance), Suzy Avey (distance), Britney Bachmeier (sprints, jumps), AnnaLiesa Fauth (sprints), Jill Schlenker (throws), Jessica Swart (throws), Sada Thompson (throws).

DAC returning champions

100 - Nikki Duffy, Dakota St.

200 - Shannon Hellman, South Dakota Mines

800 - Wesleigh Jastorff, Black Hills St.

1,500 - Wesleigh Jastorff, Black Hills St.

5,000 - Kerry Washburn, Black Hills St.

100 hurdles - Shannon Hellman, South Dakota Mines

High jump - Laura Tewes, Dakota St.

Long jump - Liz McCarty, Jamestown

Shot put - Amber Broderson, Black Hills St.

Discus - Amber Broderson, Black Hills St.