PIERRE – Volleyball hitter Makenna Schlekeway and the Governor boys cross country team are the Pierre Athletic Coaches Association-Avera Athletes of the Week for the week ending October 23.
Schlekeway had six kills in four blocks in the Governors’ straight set win over Douglas on October 22. Head Coach Tiffany Stoeser said of Schlekeway, “Makenna repeatedly gets her hands on the ball, and it frustrates the opposing team’s hitters. Once their hitters are frustrated, they are not near as effective. Makenna is so quick and light on her feet that she can block multiple times in a single rally. She is undersized as a middle blocker but works to improve her vertical leap and quickness, so her height doesn’t slow down our game in the middle. Makenna has become quite an asset to our team and a name that other teams must work to defend. She is finding open areas on the floor and is improving each week. She is well known across the state for her blocking quickness. Makenna brings excitement to the floor each week with her defense.”
Pierre boys cross country finished fourth in the AA state cross country meet at Yankton Trail Park in Sioux Falls on October 23. This is Pierre’s best boys team finish since a fourth-place finish in 2008. Fifth-place runner Hayden Shaffer, Jared Lutmer (14th) and Mason Dell (23rd) made All-State for finishing in the top 25. Shaffer and Lutmer also made All-State combined for finishing in the top 25 of all three divisions. Also for the Governors, Blake Judson was 36th, Brady Gere 52nd, Riley Pfeifer 72nd and Haeden Wheelhouse 89th. Head Coach Jim Keyes said of his boys’ team, “To give you an example on how much they improved, last year they scored 235 points and placed 10th. I am so proud of these boys because it took every single one of them to push each other to get to this point. Most of these runners took part in the Summer Running Program where together they ran over 4,000-plus miles. To beat very good teams like Sioux Falls Lincoln, Sioux Falls Jefferson, Brandon Valley, and Brookings was a great accomplishment for these young men.”
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