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Losing their independence
Jackrabbits' run as an independent ends today after three seasons of breakthroughs, frustrations
By Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
Published: May 25, 2007
While South Dakota State won't join the Summit League until July 1, today's season-ending baseball game is the last event of its final year as an independent.
Certainly, the school doesn't wish for more time "in limbo" - as women's basketball coach Aaron Johnston called those three league-less years.
But that portion of the re-classification process wasn't exactly a disaster, either.
In fact, the Jackrabbits' third season at the NCAA Division I level was a breakthrough. The football team earned a spot in every Football Championship Subdivision top 25 poll and an invitation to join the powerful Gateway Football Conference starting in 2008.
The baseball team won more than 30 games, and the volleyball team surpassed 20. The women's basketball team reached the quarterfinals of the WNIT and set single-game and season attendance records. Freshman wrestler Ryan Meyer, as well as the equestrian team, qualified for their respective national championships.
Although not being a part of a conference made it difficult for the transitioning department to gauge its progress, it's at least possible that the rigors of being an independent prepared it for success.
"I think each year our teams have gotten stronger and mentally tougher from the experience," Jacks athletic director Fred Oien said. "I also think it's helped our entire staff understand what you have to do if you want to be not just a Division I school, but one that's going to be competitive over the long haul." . . . (read more)
Go State!
Losing their independence
Jackrabbits' run as an independent ends today after three seasons of breakthroughs, frustrations
By Terry Vandrovec
tvandrovec@argusleader.com
Published: May 25, 2007
While South Dakota State won't join the Summit League until July 1, today's season-ending baseball game is the last event of its final year as an independent.
Certainly, the school doesn't wish for more time "in limbo" - as women's basketball coach Aaron Johnston called those three league-less years.
But that portion of the re-classification process wasn't exactly a disaster, either.
In fact, the Jackrabbits' third season at the NCAA Division I level was a breakthrough. The football team earned a spot in every Football Championship Subdivision top 25 poll and an invitation to join the powerful Gateway Football Conference starting in 2008.
The baseball team won more than 30 games, and the volleyball team surpassed 20. The women's basketball team reached the quarterfinals of the WNIT and set single-game and season attendance records. Freshman wrestler Ryan Meyer, as well as the equestrian team, qualified for their respective national championships.
Although not being a part of a conference made it difficult for the transitioning department to gauge its progress, it's at least possible that the rigors of being an independent prepared it for success.
"I think each year our teams have gotten stronger and mentally tougher from the experience," Jacks athletic director Fred Oien said. "I also think it's helped our entire staff understand what you have to do if you want to be not just a Division I school, but one that's going to be competitive over the long haul." . . . (read more)
Go State!
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