South Dakota sent a 70- to 74-year-old men's basketball team to the Senior Olympic Games in San Francisco on Saturday. The team consists of Terry Jorde of Aberdeen, Gene Applewick of Madison, Nick O'Hara of Edina, Minn., Roger Nelson of Brookings, Terry Pexa of Sioux Falls and Pat Kane of Sioux Falls.

The team lost its three pool play games Sunday. Seventeen teams then went into the double-elimination tournament.

In tournament play, South Dakota beat top-seed Texas, 40-35, in the first game. In the second game, South Dakota beat the California team which it played in pool play, 41-27. In the third game of the tournament, South Dakota beat another California team, 40-37.

Chadron State to host cookout, tailgate party

The Chadron State College Alumni Office will be busy once again when classes resume in late August with the annual Booster Club Cookout on Aug. 24, at Ridgeview Country Club in Chadron, Neb.

In addition, the Alumni Office will host a tailgate party on Aug. 29, before the Eagles' home opener against the University of Mary, and a bus trip to watch the Eagles play at Pittsburg State is set for the following weekend.

The cost for the Booster Club Cookout is $7.50 and reservations are appreciated. Please RSVP by calling the Alumni Office at 308-432-6366. All the Chadron State coaches will speak about their teams and upcoming seasons.

The Alumni Tailgate Party on Aug. 29, begins at 10 a.m. outside of Sparks Hall. Kickoff for the game is at noon.

Mines basketball team honored by NAIA

The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology women's basketball program was recently recognized by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for earning the NAIA Scholar Team Award. The Lady Hardrockers received the award for excelling during the 2008-09 season.

"Obviously we are very excited about our women's basketball team receiving this honor and achieving NAIA all-academic status," said Hardrocker athletic director Dick Kaiser. "As much as we want to achieve on the court and have success, it's just as important to excel off the court. This award is a tribute to the Lady Hardrocker players and coaches for participating in both athletics and academics."

For a team to be considered for the NAIA Scholar Team award they must have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as defined by the institution. The team GPA must include all varsity athletes certified as eligible.

The Park (Mo.) University women's golf team is the 2008-09 NAIA Scholar Team of the Year, the NAIA announced on Friday. The program, under the direction of head coach Kelly DeFeo, finished in the top spot with a 3.97 grade point average during the 2008-09 academic year.

A record total of 837 teams, a 12 percent increase over last year, received the award.

Players enter Chadron State fall football camp

Summer vacation is all but over for the 121 football players returning to Chadron State College for fall camp, beginning Wednesday.

The players won't have much time to notice the summer is dwindling, though, because in addition to practicing daily, they'll be busy with position meetings, film sessions and preparing for college.

In all, 17 players with starting experience and 48 letter winners return for the defending three-time Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions. In the last three seasons, CSC has won 27 straight RMAC games and qualified for the NCAA Division II playoffs each year.

The team will end its camp with a mock game scrimmage at 11 a.m. on Aug. 22. There will be a watermelon feed after the game.

The team and coaches are also hosting a free ice cream social on Thursday, Aug. 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the CSC Student Center Ballroom. O'Boyle said the entire community is invited to meet the team and coaches.

The Eagles open their 2009 season by hosting the University of Mary at noon on Aug. 29.