Athlete of the week: Parkston senior Erica Herrold starts season strong, leads team to 2 wins

PARKSTON — Erica Herrold had a memorable last first game.

The guard/forward from Parkston helped her team to two victories to open the season last week, including a 52-45 win over Freeman Tuesday.

Herrold had 28 points and 16 rebounds in the win, which was the senior’s final game that will open a season during her high school career.

“There was a lot of intensity in that Freeman game,” said the Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball signee, who will join the Tigers’ roster and play for coach Jason Christensen in the 2013-14 season. “It was a great start to our season.”

Later in the week, she kept up the big numbers and added 29 points and 14 rebounds in a 69-33 win over Tea Area.

For her efforts, Herrold has been named The Daily Republic’s athlete of the week, an award that’s voted on by the newspaper’s sports staff.

“She can take you inside, outside, post you up or shoot the 3-pointer,” Parkston coach Rob VanLaecken said before his team took the court Monday against Hanson. “She’s a tough person to have to guard.”

For the first week, Herrold had to carry a bigger load than she may have thought. VanLaecken said returning senior starters McKenzie Weidenbach and Logan Wagner were out.

Herrold answered with top-scoring figures and had double-doubles both games.

“She’s one of the keys for us this year,” VanLaecken said.

After helping Parkston to the Class A state championship game last season, Herrold said the team’s goal is to get back to the same stage.

“We didn’t quite get it last year, and that was pretty upsetting,” said Herrold, who credited and thanked her teammates for the strong week to open the year. “That motivates us to do better this year.”

Parkston picked up its first loss of the year Monday night, falling 68-59 to Hanson in Alexandria. Herrold and Parkston look to get back on the winning track when they host Chamberlain Friday.

Tags: sports, updates, parkston, basketball