South Dakota coaches recognized with year-end awards
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 23, 2026, 11:48 PM
Last updated Jun 23, 2026
Track & FieldOn June 23, during a ceremony in Parkston, South Dakota, several track and field coaches received state and regional honors. Joe Shepardson of Ethan/Parkston was named Class A track and field coach of the year in Area 3. Other award recipients included Kurt Stukel of Gregory and Michael Schmitz of Woonsocket, recognized as Class B Area 3 head coach and assistant coaches of the year, respectively. The Ethan/Parkston boys team placed sixth at the state track and field championships with athletes reaching the podium in 11 events. Sioux Falls Christian secured significant recognition, with both their boys and girls teams claiming Class A titles and Luke VanderLeest receiving the Circle of Champions coach of the year award.
- •Joe Shepardson named Class A coach of the year in Area 3.
- •Ethan/Parkston boys team finished sixth at state championships.
- •Sioux Falls Christian swept Class A team competitions.
- •Luke VanderLeest awarded Circle of Champions coach of the year.
- •Multiple athletes recognized as All-Americans in track events.
- 11:48 PMYahoo Sports — Area track and field coaches honored with year-end awards
"Jun. 23—PARKSTON, S.D. — Several area track and field coaches were awarded state and regional honors on Monday as the top coaches in South Dakota. Ethan/Parkston track and field coach Joe Shepardson was named the Class A track and field coach of the year in Area 3 by the South Dakota Cross Country and Track and Field Coaches Association. Gregory's Kurt Stukel and Woonsocket's Michael Schmitz ...
Sources
External linksOriginal reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.
Related Stories
Last 14 days- Track & FieldTrack & Field•Jun 24, 2026, 2:02 AMSimon Rosselli cracks 200 feet in U20 discus, qualifies for U20 World Athletics Congress | Track and field
- Track & Field•Jun 23, 2026, 11:58 PMArea running community mourning longtime City League coach Ernie Watts
- Track & Field•Jun 23, 2026, 8:26 PMPretzel City 5K race returns to Krape Park in June
- Track & Field•Jun 23, 2026, 9:09 AMRunners brave obstacles at annual Barbarian Challenge
- Track & Field•Jun 23, 2026, 9:01 AMDoyel: Ever wonder why road races start with gunfire? Someone did in Kyiv. Then this happened.
- Track & Field•Jun 23, 2026, 8:05 AMTaunton trio competes at New Balance Nationals track championship
