DAC men: Black Hills State to take indoor success outside

By Journal staff | Monday, April 02, 2007

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Defending NAIA champion Dickinson State has been tabbed as the team to beat again this season in the Dakota Athletic Conference track and field championships.

The Blue Hawks, who ran away with the league title last spring, could be challenged by Black Hills State and Jamestown College.

John Kungu, who won DAC titles in the 5,000 and steeplechase last season, heads the Dickinson State attack. Black Hills State has returning champions in Chad Porsch (800) and David Czerny (pole vault). The other returning DAC champion is Minot State's Drew Jysjulien (triple jump).

A glance at the DAC men'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: 10th in NAIA.

Season's outlook: "We hope to continue the success we had in the indoor season," said Walkinshaw.

Returning lettermen: Brandon Bertram (distance), Cody Bordewyk (distance), Dan Bretje (distance), James Hansen (distance), Zach Kintzley (distance), Jeremy Miller (distance), Luke Watkins (distance), Trent Waage (distance), Allen Wood (distance), Derek Nelson (high jump), Nadim Antar (middle distance), Chad Porsch (middle distance), Jesse Vrooman (middle distance), Mark Mazza (middle distance), Michael Nekuda (middle distance), David Czerny (pole vault), Lee Diede (pole vault), Jake Jacobs (sprints), Casey Allington (throws), Jerry Rhodes (throws).

Promising prospects: Eric Flores (throws, transfer from Concordia, Ore.), Tyg Long (throws, transfer from Wyoming).

Conference favorite: "Dickinson is awfully strong with their international athletes, the size of their teams and the fact that they are hosting the conference meet," Walkinshaw said.

Dickinson State

Coach: Pete Stanton.

Last season's record: NAIA champions.

Season's outlook: "We have won the last three NAIA championships, but lost several key athletes from last year's title team," said Stanton. "The season looks promising after finishing third in the indoors."

Returning lettermen: seniors Dylan Beddam (1,500), John Kungu (second in NAIA in steeplechase), Nic Burgess (NAIA qualifier in discus), Roosevelt Curry (NAIA qualifier in long jump), Kevin McElvaney (NAIA All-American); juniors Moses Chekpway (1,500), Ross Loeffler (NAIA All-American), Ryley McPeters (800); sophomores Sheldon King (high jump), Raman Miller (NAIA All-American), Clayton Unruh (shot put).

Lettermen missing: Trevor Barry, Ross Walker, Aaron Cleare.

Conference favorite: Black Hills and Dickinson, said Stanton.

South Dakota Mines

Coach: Jerry Schafer, 21st year.

Season's outlook: "We expect to be better than last year," said Schafer. "We seem to be improving steadily."

Returning lettermen: seniors Jake Donnelly (sprints), Shane Hague (distance), Eric Voorhees (throws); juniors Chandler Caldwell (pole vault), Tyler Flattum (hurdles), Rob Hahn (middle distance), Kyle Kattke (distance), Colin Royer (sprints); sophomores Scott Anderson (middle distance), Matt Deardoff (throws), William "Andy" Lein (distance), Colton Reid (distance).

Promising prospects: Mark Baue (throws), John Heine (sprints), Nate Hicks (distance), Dustin Jordan (sprints), Marcus Moor (distance), Jason Simmons (sprints).

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

Dakota State

Coach: Buzz Stevenson, 23rd year.

Season's outlook: "We have some events which will be very competitive, but other events very thin," said Stevenson. "We hope to improve on last year's performance."

Returning lettermen: seniors Kyle Hoffman (sprints), Brice Melvin (sprints), Toby Ball (sprints); juniors Trevor Stoubel (hurdles), Austin Slaughter, Chris Heezen (5,000), Jon Olawski; sophomores Eric Bauder, Mike Johnson (hurdles), Rob

Orth.

Promising prospects: Julius Mason, Tyler VanPerusean, Anthony Drezlau, Josh Magbuhat, Chase Calkins, Cody Foreman, Kyle Sanderson, Jed Sawatzky.

Conference favorite: Dickinson State, said Stevenson.

Minot State

Coach: Stu Melby, third year.

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

Top returning lettermen: seniors Lance Gehring, Drew Hysjulien (triple jump).

Promising prospects: Brady Foss (pole vault), Cody Goetz (pole vault), Devin Hiller, sprints, transfer from NDSU), Kyle Jacobs (throws), Zach Klingbeil (middle distance), Josh Ming (javelin, triple jump), Lucas Niess (sprints), Nick Rausch (sprints), Ken Story (distance), Juan Vadell (sprints), Spencer Watt (sprints, jumps).

Lettermen missing: George Anderson, Zach Budick, Kevin Hanson, Matt McGowan, Kyle Quist.

Jamestown College

Coach: Brent Tischer., 29th year.

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

Season's outlook: "We finished third at the 2007 DCC Indoor. As a team we will feature a lot of depth in all events. We are very strong in the jumps and relays. We expect to continue to improve throughout the season because of better facilities (outdoor track) and the addition of new members to the squad," said Tischer.

Returning lettermen: Eric Dirk (sprints), Zach Essler (distance), Porfirio Gonzalez (throws), Reggie Heim (distance), Brandon Hess (distance), Brandon Hicks (middle distance), Nathan Horgeshimer (middle distance), Justin Hosman (distance), Curtis Huffman (distance), Sean Iverson (hurdles, middle distance), Brandon Judy (sprints), Nick Karakas (high jump), Danny Lawson (sprints, jumps), Chris Makoutz (sprints, pole vault), Chris Massey (hurdles), Phil Nisbett (middle distance), Joseph Nustad (middle distance), Jesse Ova (middle distance), Tyler Pfennig (throws), Eric Quale (sprints), Lyndon Schmidt (sprints), Stephen Strait (sprints, high jump), Levi Taylor (hurdles, jumps), Nick Tews (sprints,jumps), Joey Vossler (pole vault), John Wallace (middle distance).