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SDSU Air Force ROTC wins back-to-back titles in basketball tourney
Victory is sweet; especially those that come back-to-back. For the second year in a row, South Dakota State University’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) women’s basketball team won top honors at the 20th annual Flyin’ Irish Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The tournament was held Jan. 20 through Jan. 22 at Notre Dame University in Indiana. SDSU’s men’s and women’s AFROTC teams competed against 52 schools from across the country.
The women’s team dominated the competition, winning almost every game by double digits. Even the championship game against Purdue was won easily with a final score of 34-18.
On top of winning the tournament championship, twin sisters Emily and Elizabeth Jarding, of Humboldt, were named co-MVPs for the entire tournament. The girls refuse to take credit for the wins, however, saying that everyone on the team contributed and stepped up at some point in the tournament. They said winning the tournament was a testament to the entire group’s teamwork.
“I’m extremely proud of the teamwork, professionalism and superb sportsmanship demonstrated by all the members of the women’s and men’s teams throughout the entire tournament,” said Lt. Col. Craig Bond, AFROTC Detachment 780 commander. “These cadets are truly cream-of-the-crop officer candidates.”
In order to pay for the tournament, the AFROTC cadets raised funds by cleaning up after SDSU athletic events, holding a raffle and from donations from AFROTC alumni.
Team members included the Jarding sisters; Nita Harstad, of Milbank; Brynna McKinney, of Canby, Minn.; Kristen Klinkner, of Artesian; Meggan Jacobsma, of Sioux Center, Iowa; Mary Omdahl, of Newell; and Stacey Somsen, of Pierre.
Some scores of their games were: vs. Virginia Tech 84-4, vs. Notre Dame Navy 38-25, vs. Miami-Ohio 33-30, vs. Marquette Air Force/Navy 46-16, and the championship vs. Purdue 34-18.
Victory is sweet; especially those that come back-to-back. For the second year in a row, South Dakota State University’s Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) women’s basketball team won top honors at the 20th annual Flyin’ Irish Invitational Basketball Tournament.
The tournament was held Jan. 20 through Jan. 22 at Notre Dame University in Indiana. SDSU’s men’s and women’s AFROTC teams competed against 52 schools from across the country.
The women’s team dominated the competition, winning almost every game by double digits. Even the championship game against Purdue was won easily with a final score of 34-18.
On top of winning the tournament championship, twin sisters Emily and Elizabeth Jarding, of Humboldt, were named co-MVPs for the entire tournament. The girls refuse to take credit for the wins, however, saying that everyone on the team contributed and stepped up at some point in the tournament. They said winning the tournament was a testament to the entire group’s teamwork.
“I’m extremely proud of the teamwork, professionalism and superb sportsmanship demonstrated by all the members of the women’s and men’s teams throughout the entire tournament,” said Lt. Col. Craig Bond, AFROTC Detachment 780 commander. “These cadets are truly cream-of-the-crop officer candidates.”
In order to pay for the tournament, the AFROTC cadets raised funds by cleaning up after SDSU athletic events, holding a raffle and from donations from AFROTC alumni.
Team members included the Jarding sisters; Nita Harstad, of Milbank; Brynna McKinney, of Canby, Minn.; Kristen Klinkner, of Artesian; Meggan Jacobsma, of Sioux Center, Iowa; Mary Omdahl, of Newell; and Stacey Somsen, of Pierre.
Some scores of their games were: vs. Virginia Tech 84-4, vs. Notre Dame Navy 38-25, vs. Miami-Ohio 33-30, vs. Marquette Air Force/Navy 46-16, and the championship vs. Purdue 34-18.