Former Sully Buttes golfer headed to Dakota Wesleyan

 Samantha Gunning, who was a finalist and set new personal records in every race she entered on the weekend, finished fifth in the 400 individual medley and fourth in the 200 butterfly to cap an outstanding meet for the sophomore. She also set new personal standards in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly earlier in the meet.

 Other PRs included Elizabeth Cvrk (200 butterfly), Briana Iverson (1,000 freestyle), Samantha Bahr (100 freestyle), Cynthia Konechne (100 freestyle), Ashley LaFave (100 freestyle), Lindsey Wilson (100 backstroke) and Nicole Arnold (200 breaststroke).

From Staff Reports

 

Augie finalists

 Augustana College Director of Athletics Bill Gross has announced the three candidates have been invited to campus as finalists in its search for a new head football coach.

 The finalists include David Brown II, head coach at Missouri S&T, Daren Wilkinson, former quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at Colorado State, and Jerry Olszewski, head coach at St. Olaf College.

 Each of the candidates will be on campus today through Friday for interviews with the search committee, members of the football team and university administration.

 Brown recently completed his third season as the head coach at Missouri S&T and was previously the defensive backs coach at Ohio University from 2006-10. Wilkinson spent four seasons at Colorado State from 2008-12 where he coached quarterbacks and worked as the assistant recruiting coordinator. Prior to arriving in Fort Collins, Wilkinson spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at South Dakota State University from 2004-2007.

 Olszewski just finished his fifth season as the head coach at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., and was previously the defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point from 2006-08.

 Augustana fired head coach Mike Aldrich last month after a 5-6 season. Aldrich was one of four finalists for the Northern State job, which ultimately went to current coach Tom Dosch.

From Staff Reports

 

Quickly

 Purdue senior women’s basketball player and Stanley County graduate Sam Ostarello had 23 points and nine rebounds Sunday to help No. 14 Purdue defeat Central Michigan 87-71.

 Minnesota State, Mankato’s acting head coach Aaron Keen has been named the National Football Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year. Keen, who has guided Mankato to a 13-0 record, is in his second year with the Mavericks. In addition to leading the Mavericks to an undefeated season so far, Keen saw his squad win the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship and the NSIC South Division crown. This past weekend, thanks to Minnesota State’s 17-10 win over Missouri Western State, the Mavericks won the NCAA Super Region No. 3 earning a berth into this weekend’s semifinal contest.

 Winona State defeated Lindenwood 41-21 in the Mineral Water Bowl on Saturday in Excelsior Springs, Mo. Senior running back Rayon Simmons led a Warrior rushing attack that rolled up 294 yards on the ground. Simmons, the game’s offensive Most Valuable Player, rushed for over 100 yards in the first half while scoring a touchdown. The senior also caught three passes for 62 yards. Simmons ends his Winona State career with 5,246 rushing yards, the most in school history. He finished his senior season with 1,774 rushing yards, another program record.

 In a battle of the top two NCAA Division II volleyball teams in the country, No. 1 Concordia-St. Paul claimed the NCAA Central Region Championship on Saturday night with a 3-1 victory over No. 2 Nebraska-Kearney in St. Paul, Minn. Concordia (30-4) will take on Wingate University in the national quarterfinals on Thursday in Pensacola, Fla.

 College Plus is a weekly feature on Tuesdays in the American News during the college sports season. If you have news tips or suggestions, e-mail jpapendick@aberdeennews.com or call 605-622-2323.