Catching Up: A Look at Former Area Athletes

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Mandy Baxa, a Herrick native, put together a pair of productive matches in the past week for the Dakota State University volleyball team.

Baxa, a freshman middle hitter for the Trojans, had 10 kills, a solo block and five block assists to help DSU snap a four-match losing streak with a five-set win over Mayville State (N.D.) on Wednesday, Oct. 6.

Baxa, who played her prep athletics at South Central High School, also had 11 kills and five block assists in a five-set loss to the University of Sioux Falls on Tuesday.

For the season, Baxa has 100 kills.

The Trojans are 8-16 overall and 2-5 in the Dakota Athletic Conference and travel to Rapid City to face South Dakota School of Mines & Technology on Friday.

A handful of former area standouts have had a hand in the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology football team’s successful start to the season.

Howard native Wyatt Stangohr recorded nine total tackles, including a sack, in the Hardrockers 31-7 win over Jamestown College (N.D.) on Saturday in Rapid City.

Stangohr is a 6-foot-1, 235-pound senior defensive lineman for the team.

Also against Jamestown, Vivian native Brian Kemnitz had seven total tackles (2 unassisted) and a sack. Kemnitz is a 6-3, 230-pound senior defensive end.

Josh Sherman, a junior defensive back from Colome, also had seven tackles in the game, while Todd Sherman, a junior defensive lineman and former Winner standout, added one tackle.

Letcher native Lukas VanLaecken, a freshman running back for the Hardrockers, also rushed four times for five yards against Jamestown.

Kemnitz, Stangohr and Josh Sherman each have played in all six games for the Hardrockers so far this season. Kemnitz is tied for fourth on the team with 37 total tackles, while Stangohr and Josh Sherman each have 26 total tackles.

The Hardrockers are 5-1 overall this season and have won their past four contests. They travel to Minot, N.D., to take on Minot State University at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

“Catching Up” runs every Thursday. Send your nominations via e-mail to sports@mitchellrepublic.com.

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