Advertisement

Kernel girls soccer lands three on Class AA all-state squads

landon dierks, the daily republic, mitchell, s.d.
·5 min read

Oct. 17—MITCHELL — A trio of seniors from the Mitchell High School girls soccer team were named to the 2023 Class AA all-state honor squads, as selected by the South Dakota High School Soccer Coaches Association.

Mia Mullenmeister earned a place on the all-state first team, while Maddie Kempf was named to the second team and Adelyn Prunty was recognized as an honorable mention pick for the Kernels, who put together a 16-2-0 record and state runner-up finish for the best season in program history.

With all three serving as team captains, they started all 18 matches for MHS this season and were responsible for leading the three levels of the Kernels' formation.

For her forward spot, Mullenmeister scored a state-high 42 goals and five assists to power Mitchell's attack. This marks Mullenmeister's third consecutive season on the all-state first team.

Kempf, an outside back, helped anchor the Kernels' defensive back line, and played a large role in elevating MHS to one of Class AA's best defenses this season.

Prunty was one of five Kernels to record at least five assists this season and covered as much ground, both in attack and in defense, as any MHS player this season from her midfield position.

Aberdeen Central led all schools with three selections to the all-state first team (with one on the second team and one honorable mention), while state champion Harrisburg put two players on the first team and four on the second team for the most total all-state picks. Other schools with multiple all-state players included Sioux Falls Lincoln with four, Mitchell and Rapid City Central with three each and Pierre and Sioux Falls Roosevelt with two apiece.

Mullenmeister and Prunty were also named to the all-Eastern South Dakota Conference team, as was sophomore defender Kassedy Knippling. Kempf was an honorable mention pick and was joined by junior forward Makenzie Peterson, junior goalkeeper Tenley Peterson and sophomore forward Kenzi Kayl for the Kernels.

As a team, Mitchell tied with Harrisburg and Aberdeen Central at 7-1-0 in conference play to win a share of the ESD title for the first time in program history.

For the MHS boys soccer team, Caden Olegario was an all-ESD selection and Sam Mullenmeister snagged an honorable mention pick.

Olegario, a senior forward, scored 14 goals of the Kernels' 22 total this season, while Mullenmeister, a sophomore, added three goals and 13 assists. MHS finished with a 2-11-1 record for the season with a 0-7-1 mark in conference play, which was ninth of nine in the conference.

Elsewhere, conference runner-up Aberdeen Central put four players on the all-state team (plus one honorable mention), matched by Watertown. ESD champion Yankton had three picks, as did Brookings.

Class AA All-State Girls Team

First Team

Aberdeen Central: Ciara Frank, sr.; Deshani Peters, sr.; Kailyn Poppen, sr.

Harrisburg: Hailee Christensen, sr.; Elsie Odney, sr.

Mitchell: Mia Mullenmeister, sr.

O'Gorman: Libby Castelli, jr.

Pierre: Ryann Barry, sr.

Rapid City Central: Breanna Reagan, jr.

Sioux Falls Lincoln: Lily Dahler, sr.

Spearfish: Brooke Peotter, sr.

Second Team

Aberdeen Central: Lauren Joosten, sr.

Harrisburg: Abigail Flanagan, sr.; Taylor Halstenson, jr.; Jaylee Hofer, sr.; Tierney Mullady, jr.

Mitchell: Maddie Kempf, sr.

Rapid City Central: Lanie Weaver, sr.

Rapid City Stevens: Zoey Barth, so.

Sioux Falls Lincoln: Ilee Neemeyer, jr.; Ella Ready, sr.

Sioux Falls Roosevelt: Camryn Wilkinson, sr.

Honorable Mention

Aberdeen Central: Kirra Stillman, jr.

Mitchell: Adelyn Prunty, sr.

Pierre: Aly Hutchinson, jr.

Rapid City Central: Kaysie Dahl, sr.

Sioux Falls Lincoln: Marie Horsted, jr.

Sioux Falls Roosevelt: Taite Scheafer, sr.

All-ESD Girls Team

Aberdeen Central: Ciara Frank, sr.; Lauren Joosten, sr.; Deshani Peters, sr.; Kailyn Poppen, sr.

Brandon Valley: Chloe Erickson, jr.; Madison Pederson, jr.

Brookings: Elise Lefers, sr.

Harrisburg: Hailee Christensen, sr.; Taylor Halstenson, jr.; Jaylee Hofer, sr.; Stella Litzen, sr.; Tierney Mullady, jr.; Elsie Odney, sr.; Ella Weide, sr.

Mitchell: Kassedy Knippling, so.; Mia Mullenmeister, sr.; Adelyn Prunty, sr.

Pierre: Ryann Barry, sr.; Aly Hutchinson, jr.; Jasmine Jost, so.

Watertown: Aspen Reynolds, sr.

Yankton: Tessa Gilles, jr.

Honorable Mention

Aberdeen Central: Bailey DeGroot, sr.; Kirra Stillman, jr.

Harrisburg: Abigail Flanagan, sr.

Mitchell: Kenzie Kayl, so.; Maddie Kempf, sr.; Mackenzie Peterson, jr.; Tenley Peterson, jr.

Yankton: Aubrie Lloyd, sr.

ESD Girls Team Standings

T1. Mitchell, 7-1-0; T1. Harrisburg, 7-1-0; T1. Aberdeen Central, 7-1-0; 4. Pierre, 4-3-1; T5. Brandon Valley, 2-4-2; T5. Watertown, 3-5-0; 7. Yankton, 2-5-1; 8. Brookings, 2-6-0; 9. Huron, 0-8-0.

Class AA All-State Boys Team

First Team

Aberdeen Central: Manuel Munoz, sr.

O'Gorman: Nick North, sr.; Savian Walton, sr.

Rapid City Stevens: Luther Busching, sr.; Gabe Cox, sr.

Sioux Falls Jefferson: Mason Koch, sr.

Sioux Falls Lincoln: Tallen Dobson, sr.; Max Hilgenberg, jr.; Henry Eckert, sr.

Spearfish: Kellan Scott, sr.

Yankton: Lance Dannenbring, sr.

Second Team

Aberdeen Central: Jordan Grieben, sr.

Brookings: Junior Eberline, sr.

Rapid City Central: Conner Warren, sr.

Sioux Falls Jefferson: Kaden Wagner, sr.; Jensen Hyronimus, jr.

Sioux Falls Lincoln: Brady Stamp, so.

Sioux Falls Roosevelt: Ethen Fagerness, jr.

Spearfish: Ayden Verhulst, sr.

Watertown: Tommy Foley, sr.

Yankton: Ty Binde, sr.; Christian Pacheco, so.

Honorable Mention

Brandon Valley: Brady Thompson, sr.

Huron: Ah Lar Sar, sr.

O'Gorman: Vincent Radel, so.

Sturgis: Talan Kullbom, sr.; Carsen Wolter, jr.

Watertown: Riley Fischer, jr.

All-ESD Boys Team

Aberdeen Central: Tyler Bain, so.; Camden Fauth, sr.; Jordan Grieben, sr.; Manuel Munoz, sr.

Brandon Valley: Thaddeus Miller, so.; Brady Thompson, sr.

Brookings: Junior Eberline, sr.; Rylan Eide, sr.; Nithin Perumal, sr.

Harrisburg: Josiah Hutton, sr.; Emory Johnson, sr.

Huron: Ah Lar Sar, sr.; Ta Ha Saw, jr.

Mitchell: Caden Olegario, sr.

Pierre: Steven Blanchette, jr.; Jacoby LaRoche, fr.

Watertown: Braxten Endres, jr.; Riley Fischer, jr.; Tommy Foley, sr.; Noah Wallenmeyer, sr.

Yankton: Ty Binde, sr.; Lance Dannenbring, sr.; Christian Pacheco, so.

Honorable Mention

Aberdeen Central: Hunter Erickson, jr.

Brandon Valley: Quin Biever, jr.

Mitchell: Sam Mullenmeister, so.

ESD Boys Team Standings

1. Yankton, 6-0-2; 2. Aberdeen Central, 6-2-0; 3. Brookings, 4-3-1; T4. Brandon Valley, 3-3-2; T4. Huron, 3-3-2; T4. Watertown, 3-3-2; T7. Harrisburg, 1-3-4; T7. Pierre, 2-4-2; 9. Mitchell, 0-7-1.