The Mount Marty Lancers have been picked 7th out of 11 teams in the GPAC Football Preseason Poll.

The Lancers are coming off a 4-7 season in 2025 that saw them finish 8th in the GPAC with a 3-7 conference record.

Morningside took the top spot, earning 6 first-place votes, followed by Dordt in second with 4 first-place votes. Northwestern, in 3rd, received the final first-place vote.

The Lancers open their 2026 campaign on August 29th against Clarke University at Riverside Field. MMU’s GPAC opener against Briar Cliff is scheduled for Sept.5th.

GPAC Football Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes):

1. Morningside (6)
2. Dordt (4)
3. Northwestern (1)
4. Concordia
5. Midland
6. Hastings
7. Mount Marty
8. Briar Cliff
9. Dakota Wesleyan
10. Doane
11. Waldorf

Yankton High School is hosting a Fall Sports Kickoff tomorrow night at the YHS Commons.

Food will be served at 6:00 PM, with coaches set to speak between 6:30 and 6:45. 

Representatives from all fall athletics are scheduled to speak. The event is free and open to the public. 

The Tabor Bluebirds were eliminated from the Class B Amateur Baseball Tournament last night with a 10-3 loss to Clark.

Riley Rothschadl and Josiah Peterson combined for four of Tabor’s five hits in the loss, with Peterson scoring a run. Rothschadl was credited with the loss on the mound.

Tabor ends the 2026 season with a 13-5 record, finishing 2nd in the South Central League regular season standings while claiming a District 6B Championship.

The 2026-27 athletic season for the Yankton Bucks and Gazelles kicks off on Friday, with Gazelles Tennis and Bucks/Gazelles Soccer in action.

The Gazelles Tennis program will open their season with a triangular at Griffin Park in Pierre. The Gazelles will face Pierre first at 1:00 PM, before taking on Rapid City Central at 4:00 PM.

Yankton Soccer will travel to Sioux Falls for a boys and girls doubleheader against the Lincoln Patriots. The boys will play first at 5:00 PM, with the boys to follow at 7:00. Both varsity games will be held at Lincoln High School.

The University of South Dakota has announced that the Yote Fund raised a record $32.2 million during the 2025-26 season, topping the previous record set in 2012 by over 50%.

The record-breaking year was headlined by the landmark $20 million gift from the late Mr. Denny Sanford. Other highlights include five additional contributions of $1 million or more as well as 19 different athletic funds receiving six-figure investments.

Donations have already led to several improvements at USD. The First Bank & Trust Soccer Complex received new turf over the summer, and The DakotaDome will receive over $2 million in upgrades throughout the 2026-27 year.

Since its inception, The Yote Fund and USD Athletics have raised a record total of $47 million in cash and pledges, helping support all 18 athletic programs and 400+ student-athletes at the University of South Dakota